Patent ID: 7240224

Claim:
A network power system for delivering inline power, the system comprising: a first power source equipment having at least one output power interface capable of transmitting inline power; a first powered device having an input power interface capable of receiving inline power; and a first transmission media capable of carrying inline power and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the at least one output power interface of the first power source equipment and the second end is coupled to the input power interface of the first powered device, wherein at least one of the first power source equipment or the first powered device includes a first negotiator capable of negotiating a resolution to at least one inline power allocation issue arising from existing or predicted changes in power draw requirements and/or power supply characteristics, said requirements and/or characteristics being identified by information that is stored in the system and that is communicated to the first negotiator for use thereby in negotiating the resolution.