Patent ID: 7472290
Filing Date: 2008-12-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In power sourcing equipment that manages distribution of power and data over a network, a method comprising: receiving power profile information associated with a network device; analyzing the power profile information to identify how to provide power to the network device over a data link from the power sourcing equipment to the network device during a power failure; and providing power to the network device over the data link according to an analysis of the received power profile information wherein analyzing the power profile information results in: learning how to provision power to the network device during normal operating conditions of the power sourcing equipment; learning how to provision power to the network device during a power outage in which a power source supplying power to the power sourcing equipment runs on backup power rather than failed primary wall power; and wherein the power profile information indicates that the network device demands less power from the power sourcing equipment over the data link during the power failure than when the power sourcing equipment operates under normal conditions when there is no power failure; wherein prior to receiving the power profile information associated with the network device comprises: detecting that the network device has been coupled to the power sourcing equipment over a data link; identifying that the network device requires power from the power sourcing equipment; and initiating retrieval of the power profile information over the data link in response to detecting that the network device has been coupled to communicate over the data link.