System employing signaling at a powered communications interface to modify or override a power-withholding policy at a power-sourcing equipment

摘要

A power-sourcing equipment (PSE) has a powered communications interface to which a powered device (PD) is coupled. The PD presents a valid PD signature indicating that the PD is attached and capable of receiving normal operating power from the PSE. Per a power-withholding policy, the PSE operates in a power-withholding state to withhold the normal operating power notwithstanding the valid PD signature, and monitors for a signal via the powered communications interface indicating that the normal operating power should be delivered to the PD. The signal may be an alternative signature generated by a user-activated switch for example. In response to receiving the signal in the power-withholding state, the PSE enters a power-providing state in which it provides the normal operating power to the PD notwithstanding the power-withholding policy. An intermediate device (dongle) may be employed to generate the signal.

主权项

1. A system, comprising:
a power-sourcing equipment (PSE) having a powered communications interface via which the PSE can deliver normal operating power; and a powered device (PD) coupled to the powered communications interface of the PSE by a power delivery channel having two wire pairs, the PD being operative to present a valid PD signature to the two wire pairs indicating that the PD is attached and able to receive the normal operating power from the PSE via the two wire pairs; the PSE being operative (i) in accordance with a power-withholding policy, to operate in a power-withholding state in which the PSE (a) withholds the normal operating power from the two wire pairs notwithstanding the presentation of the valid PD signature by the PD to the two wire pairs, and (b) monitors for the receipt of a signal via the two wire pairs indicating that the normal operating power should be delivered to the PD via the two wire pairs, and (ii) in response to receiving the signal in the power-withholding state, to enter a power-providing state in which the PSE provides the normal operating power to the PD via the two wire pairs notwithstanding the power-withholding policy.