Patent ID: 6643566
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: G06F,H02G,H04L

Abstract:
A local area network comprising:a. a plurality of local area network nodes; b. an LAN switch assembly; c. a communication cabling connecting said plurality of nodes to said switch assembly for providing data communication, said communication cabling comprising LAN cabling in one of categories meeting an EIA/TIA cabling standard, comprising twisted wire pairs simultaneously carrying both data and power; and, d. said LAN switch assembly comprising: (1) line interface circuitry coupling power into said twisted wire pairs of the communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication on said twisted wire pairs; (2) a controller governing the supply of power to at least some of the plurality of local area network nodes via said twisted wire pairs of the communication cabling; (3) current limiting circuitry connected to the line interface circuitry and controlling current delivered by the line interface circuitry into said twisted wire pairs of the communication cabling; and, (4) wherein said LAN switch assembly is operative to provide at least some power to at least some of said plurality of nodes via said twisted wire pairs of said communication cabling so as to yield a combined power/data signal, said current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a current limit level for each node.