Patent ID: 8576873

Claim:
A method in a power over Ethernet system that delivers power from a power source equipment to a powered device, said power over Ethernet system being designed for cable lengths up to a maximum of 100 meters, comprising: upon connection of said powered device to a power source equipment port via an Ethernet cable link that has a length greater than said maximum length of 100 meters, measuring by a cable detection component in said power source equipment, electrical characteristics of said Ethernet cable link; determining whether connectors exist in a middle of said Ethernet cable link, said determining being based on an identification of discontinuities in said Ethernet cable link based on said measured electrical characteristics; validating an installation of said power source equipment port prior to a delivery of power to said powered device over said Ethernet cable link, said validation including estimating a resistance of said Ethernet cable link using said determined existence of said connectors, identifying a new maximum cable length limit greater than 100 meters, and determining whether a length of said Ethernet cable link is less than said new maximum cable length limit to produce a validation result that determines whether to initiate said delivery of power to said powered device over said Ethernet cable link; and if it is determined that said delivery of power is to be initiated, then allocating a power budget to said power source equipment port, said allocated power budget being determined based on said determined existence of said connectors.