Patent ID: 7363525

Claim:
A data telecommunications network, comprising: a first device having a first port configured as power sourcing equipment (PSE); a second device having a second port coupled to said first port, and a third port, the second port configured as a powered device (PD) and the third port configured as PSE, the second and the third port coupled within the second device to communicate data; a third device having a fourth port coupled to said third port, and a fifth port, the fourth port configured at a first time as a PD and the fifth port configured at the first time with inline power turned off, the fourth port and the fifth port coupled within the third device to communicate data; a fourth device having a sixth port coupled to said fifth port, and a seventh port, the sixth port configured at the first time with inline power turned off, the sixth port and the seventh port coupled within the fourth device to communicate data; and circuitry for detecting a loss of power at a second time delivered from said third port to said fourth port, said fourth port adapted to turn off inline power responsive to said circuitry, said fifth port adapted to be configured as a PD responsive to said circuitry, and said sixth port adapted to turn on inline power and configure itself as PSE in response to said fifth port becoming configured as a PD.