CONTROLLERS WITH INTEGRATED POWER OVER ETHERNET NETWORK SWITCHES

摘要

A system and approach that may provide power to network switches of controllers in a failsafe manner. For instance, when a controller is receiving normal power, the controller may act as a power over Ethernet (POE) source that supplies power to its connected Ethernet devices as required. However, if power to a controller is lost, then Ethernet devices may switch to a powered device mode and use power from a neighboring device to keep active. Some power may be tapped for network switch operation from any network switch port receiving power from another device. This may allow communication to remain operational across multiple devices in a string of which some have lost a source of normal power.

主权项

1. A system for power over network switching comprising:
two or more controllers; and wherein: each controller of the two or more controllers comprises a multi-port Ethernet switch; a first port of the Ethernet switch is for power sourcing equipment and a second port of the Ethernet is for a powered device; and the two or more controllers are connected in a daisy chain fashion with a power over Ethernet (POE) cable connected from a first port of an Ethernet switch of one controller to a second port of another controller, respectively.