Dynamically configurable power-over-ethernet apparatus and method

摘要

One or more dual-role Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) port units are each selectively configurable to operate as either (i) a PoE Power Source Equipment (PSE) port unit to provide power to a device connected to the PoE port unit, or (ii) a PoE Powered Device (PD) port unit to sink power from the connected device. Each PoE port unit includes a network port, and a bi-directional power converter to selectively convert power in either (i) a first direction and to provide converted power to the network port when the PoE port unit operates as the PSE port unit, or (ii) in a second direction to convert power received from the network port when the PoE port unit operates as the PD port unit.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
one or more dual-role Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) port units, each PoE port unit being selectively configurable to switch between (i) a PoE Power Source Equipment (PSE) port unit to provide power to a device connected to the PoE port unit, and (ii) a PoE Powered Device (PD) port unit to sink power from the connected device, wherein each PoE port unit includes: a port to mate with a network cable; a bi-directional power converter to selectively convert power in either a first direction to provide converted power to the port when the PoE port unit is configured to operate as the PSE port unit, or in a second direction to convert power received from the port when the PoE port unit is configured to operate as the PD port unit; and a dual-role PoE controller to selectively perform either PSE operations or PD operations, and, if the controller is required to reverse roles thereof, execute, in accordance with a Link Layer Data Protocol (LLDP), a PoE role-reversal protocol with a connected device in which the controller is configured to:
send a role-reversal approval request to the connected device;responsive to sending the role-reversal approval request, start a role-change timer;if a role-reversal approval is received from the connected device before the role-change timer expires, reverse the role of the dual-role PoE controller; andif an indication of a role-reversal of the connected device is received from the connected device, send a role reversal complete notification to the connected device.