Patent ID: 7162650
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A network switching apparatus for supplying power to network communication equipment, the network switching apparatus comprising: a network switching circuit for exchanging packets; at least one socket, each connected to an RJ-45 connector having a twisted pair line so as to electrically connect the network switching apparatus to a corresponding socket of the network communication equipment through the twisted pair line; and a power control circuit electrically connected to the at least one socket of the network switching apparatus, the power control circuit being operable to generate signals having a predetermined frequency and in accordance with specifications stipulated in IEEE 802.3af, transmit the signals having the predetermined frequency to the network communication equipment through pins of the at least one socket, and supply power of the network switching apparatus to the network communication equipment through the RJ-45 connector and the twisted pair line thereof in response to signals received from the network communication equipment, wherein the power control circuit comprises: at least one microprocessor; an oscillation circuit connected to the microprocessor, the oscillation circuit being operable to generate signals having a predetermined frequency and transmit the signals having the predetermined frequency to the network communication equipment coupled to the at least one socket through the microprocessor and the pins of the at least one socket corresponding to the RJ-45 connector; a bus driver circuit connected to the microprocessor; a plurality of RS-232 driver interfaces coupled to the microprocessor through the bus driver circuit; and an analog switching circuit interconnected to each at least one socket and each RS-232 driver interface and including a plurality of analog switches each interconnected to the corresponding at least one socket and each RS-232 driver interface, a switching of each analog switch being under a control of the microprocessor for supplying power from the network switching apparatus to each of the coupled network communication equipment, and wherein the oscillation circuit is operable, under control of the microprocessor, to generate the signals having the predetermined frequency and transmit the signals having the predetermined frequency to the network communication equipment coupled to the at least one socket through the microprocessor, the bus driver circuit, the RS-232 driver interfaces, the analog switching circuit, and the pins of the at least one socket corresponding to the RJ-45 connector, and to switch the analog switching circuit for supplying power of the network switching apparatus to the network communication equipment through the RJ-45 connector and the twisted pair line thereof in response to signals received from the network communication equipment.