Abstract:
Described herein is a network connectable device which may draw power from a network connection and distribute data and power to peripheral devices connected to the device. This obviates the need for the device and the connected peripheral devices to have their own additional power sources. The device and the peripheral devices are not restricted from using additional power sources. The device provides an all IP (Internet Protocol) solution equivalent to USB Peer-to-Peer connectivity. Video, HD (High Definition), 3D, full control USB and/or serial connections are enabled to and from devices such as keyboards, joysticks or monitors, with connectivity from anywhere on the network.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/303,450, entitled “Network Connectable Computing Device Providing Power Outlet and Data Communications,” filed Feb. 11, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of network connectable computing devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Non-provisional application Ser. No. 12/587,921, filed Oct. 14, 2009 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0004]    Networks and network standards provide interconnection for computing devices. Buses and bus standards provide interconnection for computing devices and peripherals. Generally, each of the computing devices, whether standalone or connected to a network, has its own power source, which can be a power cord to a power outlet or batteries. Peripherals may have their own power supply or draw power from a bus connection. Network connections may or may not be conveniently located near a power source such as a wall outlet or batteries. 
         [0005]    USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a standard for connection between computing devices and peripherals. USB provides a data connection over which the computing device and the peripheral communicate, and USB provides power to charge and power a peripheral. However, USB is not well-suited for tables of more than 5 meters length, while network cables may be longer. USB over IP (Internet Protocol) allows connection of USB devices to the Internet, but does not provide power to the USB device. 
         [0006]    An Ethernet connection can provide power to Ethernet devices. Applicable standards are PoE (Power over Ethernet) and the emerging PoE-Plus, which can provide up to 30 W and up to 60 W of power, respectively over CAT 5 or CAT 6 cable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a network connectable device which can draw power from the network connection and provide power and rich data, control, mobility and sharing connections to computing or multimedia devices and peripherals such that neither the network connectable device nor any of the computing devices or peripherals require their own additional power source. Nonetheless, a computing device or peripheral with an additional power source could be connected to the network as well. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an all IP (Internet Protocol) solution equivalent to USB Peer-to-Peer connectivity, with the advantages of elimination of USB Peer-to-Peer and allowing connection from anywhere on the network. Video, HD (High Definition), 3D, full control USB and/or serial connections are enabled to and from devices such as keyboards, joysticks or monitors, with connectivity from anywhere on the network. 
         [0009]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a network connectable device acting as an Always-On and Always-Connected device with high availability, control and support to larger systems. 
         [0010]    It is a yet further object of the present invention to simplify the installation of system solutions, and to provide a single cable solution with improved security, safety and usability. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary diagram showing the various devices. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary diagram primarily showing a network connectable device providing power output and data connection. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The various devices and their ultimate connection to the Internet  110  are shown in  FIG. 1 . Peripheral devices  152  through  162  are shown connected to a network connectable device  140  which may provide power output and data connections to peripheral devices  152  through  162 . The network connectible device  140  is connected to a power over Ethernet power supply  130  which provides power and data to the network connectible device  140 . The power over Ethernet power supply  130  is a managed and software programmable power supply which is connected to router  120  thereby establishing and providing interconnection with a local area network (not shown). The power over Ethernet power supply  130  may be replaced with a power supply equivalent to a PoE or PoE+ power supply. Access to the Internet  110  is provided by the router  120  by any of the various methods known in the art. 
         [0014]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the network connectable device  140  providing power output and data connections is shown. The device  140  connects to the local area network established by router  120  and the global communication network  110  known as the Internet via an Ethernet connection  202 . The Ethernet connection  202  essentially provides a network port, at least one PoE or PoE+ Port, by connection to the router  120  through the power over Ethernet power supply  130 . The connection to the Internet  110  is provided by the router  120 . The device  140  separates power from the Ethernet connection  202 , provides data connections to external peripherals  152  through  162  of  FIG. 1 , and provides power from the Ethernet connection  202  to its own modules and circuits as well as to external devices. For ease of viewing, the physical connections between the modules of the network connectable device  140  are not shown. These connections are well known in the art. 
         [0015]    The network connectable device  140  may be comprised of multiple modules. A Web Interface  210  also connects to the Internet  110  via the Ethernet connection  202 . Physical standards for the connector and protocol standards for the signaling and data are adhered to. 
         [0016]    A PoE or PoE+ Module  204  extracts power from the Ethernet connection  202  and separates the power from the data, providing power and data to other modules or to external connections. 
         [0017]    A first Data Module  212  routes data to and from other modules within the device. The first Data Module  212  connects to the Web Interface  210  and to the PoE or PoE+ Module  204  as well as other modules. The first Data Module  212  moves data to or from the Web Interface  210  and thereby to or from the Internet  110 , and moves data to or from other modules by means of one or more data buses (not shown). 
         [0018]    A Power Module  214  routes electrical power to other modules within the device through various connections (not shown). The Power Module  214  gets power from the PoE or PoE+ Module  204 , and thereby from the Ethernet connection  202 . The Power Module  214  may step voltage up or down, condition power and distribute differing levels of voltage or current to internal modules. The power module  214  is a high-efficiency power module. 
         [0019]    A USB Module  224  connects to a USB port  226  which provides a USB connection to external peripherals. The USB port  226  provides power to USB peripherals, per the USB standard. The power provided by the USB port  226  is obtained from the Power Module  214  and is thus from the Ethernet connection  202 . 
         [0020]    A second Data Module  228  connects to a port (not shown) which provides a data connection to external peripherals. 
         [0021]    An Audio Module  230  connects to a port (not shown) which provides an audio connection to external peripherals such as speakers. 
         [0022]    A Video Module  232  connects to a video port (not shown) which provides a video connection to external peripherals such as displays. The Video Module  232  may conform to HD (High Definition), 2D or 3D (two dimensional or three dimensional) video standards. 
         [0023]    A Power and Charging Module  234  connects to one or more power outlets (not shown) and provides DC and/or AC power to external devices. The Power and Charging Module  234  obtains power from the Power Module  214  and thus obtains power from the Ethernet connection  202 . 
         [0024]    A Control Module  236  provides interactive control, such as from user operated I/O devices (not shown). The Control Module  236  may support one or more ports (not shown) for user operated devices such as a mouse, a joystick, a trackball, a touch pad, buttons etc., or the Control Module may support I/O devices connected to the USB port  226  or another port as part of another module. The Control Module  236  may be connected to any of the modules which support user I/O. 
         [0025]    A Server  216 , which may be embedded or standard, and which may operate client and/or server software, provides server functions for the modules, devices and storage  220  of the network connectable device and may interact with other devices, servers, memories or services on the global communication network  110  known as the Internet via the Ethernet connection  202 . 
         [0026]    Further, the Server  216  may perform functions associated with or in support of the system or method disclosed in the cross-referenced application. 
         [0027]    A Location Module  222  provides a location service and may have a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) interface, an electronic compass or an accelerometer (not shown) for location, orientation and other positioning information. 
         [0028]    A USB over IP and HDMI (High-Definition MultiMedia Interface) over IP Module  218  handles formatting and associated standards for communicating with a USB peripheral over an Ethernet connection and communicating with an HDMI peripheral such as a video monitor over an Ethernet connection, respectively. This Module  218  connects to the USB Module  224  and the Video Module  232 . 
         [0029]    Any module in the network connectable device  140  that is communicating data, to or from the Internet  110 , may connect to the Internet  110  or the local area network established by router  120  directly through the First Data Module  212 , or through some other module in the network connectable device  140 . The other module may be 3G/4G, BT, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, or any direct (peer-peer) or infrastructure mode, or both. As an example, the USB over IP, HDMI over IP module  218 , may communicate in two directions. Module  218  may use WIFI for communication to the Internet  110  or local area network established by router  120  or use Ethernet through the first data module  212  and the Ethernet connection  202  or both at the same time. The same can happen if the connectivity is 4G (LTE, Wi-Max, etc.). In an alternate embodiment the Ethernet connection  202  may be connected to the router  120  on the local area network established by router  120 , while the web interface  210  is communicating through 4G or a Wireless Network. Once these signals are on the local area network similar hardware or software modules in the network connectable device  140  leverage and consume the USB over IP, HDMI over IP, and other signals. Variations of these and other connections may be devised by a person skilled in the art. 
         [0030]    The network connectable device  140  allows multiple computing and peripheral devices to share an Internet connection without the need for separate power supply. For example, applications in automotive, home networks, classrooms, medical applications, entertainment, security, digital signage, point of sale and connected displays may use the network connectable device. Shared computing, gaming, educational or business environments may be enabled by the network connectable device. Interactive advertisement can be enabled as well. 
         [0031]    Warehouse, retail store, manufacturing and other business operations environments may benefit. A computing device, a phone, a camera, a peripheral, appliances and a connected display can be connected to each other and the Internet and powered by the Internet connection at the same time. A device with a chargeable battery can be charged while in full operation. 
         [0032]    The network connectable device  140  further allows controlling other devices with high-powered requirements. For example, a high-power industrial machine or high-powered consumer machine can provide a managed connectivity and managed power to control the large power supply on the device, and also allow management using software and standard web development tools, applications and solutions.