Patent ID: 9703650
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: G06F

Claim:
1. A data processing device comprising: a plurality of power port units for connection to a plurality of network devices, each one power port unit of the plurality of power port units being selectively configurable to operate as either (i) a Power Source Equipment (PSE) port unit to provide electrical power to one network device of the plurality of network devices, or (ii) a Powered Device (PD) port unit to sink electrical power from the one network device; a plurality of data port units to exchange data with the plurality of network devices; a processor to process at least some of the data; a power supply; a plurality of local loads; and a power summing node to electrically connect the power supply, the plurality of power port units and the plurality of local loads, wherein in response to a failure of the power supply, the processor is operative to: poll at least two network devices of the plurality of network devices to determine if the at least two network devices are able to supply electrical power; receive a response from each of the at least two network devices; configure at least two power port units of the plurality of power port units as PD port units to sink electrical power from the at least two network devices, at least part of the received electrical power being transferred from the at least two power port units via the power summing node to one or more local loads of the plurality of local loads.