Patent ID: 7978845
Filing Date: 2011-07-12
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A powered patch panel comprising: a memory that stores a control parameter; a plurality of ports, each port configured to support a network communication connection; a processor that configures at least one of the plurality of ports to selectively supply power to a powered device over the network communication connection based on the control parameter; first and second power input ports, each of said first and second power input ports comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal, power from the first power input port being combined with power from the second input port into a single power source; a first diode connecting to either the positive or the negative terminal of the first power input port and a second diode connecting to the corresponding terminal of the second power input port, the first and second diodes connecting to a first node, and the terminals of the first and second power input ports that are not connected to the first and second diodes being connected to a second node; an in-line current manager connecting to the first and second nodes to supply power to connected powered devices; and an analog-to-digital converter configured to monitor voltages of the first and second power input ports and the first and second nodes, wherein the processor is configured to determine a status of power supplied to the first and second power input ports based on the voltages monitored by the analog-to-digital converter.