Patent ID: 7449796
Filing Date: 2008-11-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A power over Ethernet controller supporting a plurality of powering modes, the power over Ethernet controller comprising: a control circuit; a pair of power sourcing equipments each responsive to said control circuit, each comprising an associated detection functionality and each selectively operative in a first mode and a second mode, said control circuit operative to control each of said pair of power sourcing equipment units in alternately one of said first mode and said second mode, said first mode comprising operating said pair of power sourcing equipments as a single power sourcing equipment operative to provide power in parallel to a single powered device over communication cabling, wherein said detection functionality associated with only one of said power sourcing equipments of said pair is activated, and said second mode comprising operating each of said power sourcing equipments of said pair independently so as to each be operative to provide power to an associated powered device over communication cabling, wherein said detection functionality associated with each of said power sourcing equipments of said pair is activated.