Patent ID: 8093749

Claim:
A system comprising: a first device that provides power to a plurality of devices connected to the first device, the first device comprising: a switchover element to at least one of source power from or sink power to the plurality of devices; and a controller, connected to the switchover element, to: determine a power level of a second device, of the plurality of devices, the second device being external to the first device, determine, based on the power level of the second device, whether a power supply, included in the second device, is operational, when the power supply, included in the second device, is operational, configure the switchover element to receive power from the second device, determine a power level of a third device, of the plurality of devices, the third device being external to the first device and being different than the second device, determine, based on the determined power level of the third device, whether another power supply, included in the third device, is operational, and configure the switchover element to provide the power, received from the second device, to the third device when the other power supply, included in the third device, is not operational and when the power supply, included in the second device, is operational.