Patent ID: 7886165

Claim:
A method for performing power management by a Power over Ethernet (PoE) capable switch, wherein the PoE-capable switch is connected to a plurality of remote devices over respective Ethernet cables and is operable to provide both data and power to each of the plurality of remote devices over the same Ethernet cable, the method comprising: receiving a notification indicating that a power source of the PoE-capable switch is limited or failing; and responsive to receiving the notification, performing: obtaining current state information from each of the plurality of remote devices, wherein the current state information associated with each of the plurality of remote devices indicates a power consumption state for a respective remote device, wherein each of the plurality of remote devices can operate in a powered-up, powered-down, or stand-by power consumption state; and selectively providing power to one or more of the plurality of remote devices connected to the PoE-capable switch based on the current state information including a power consumption state for each of the one or more of the plurality of remote devices, wherein selectively providing power to one or more of the plurality of remote devices connected to the PoE-capable switch comprises providing power for different preconfigured fixed time periods to different ones of the plurality of remote devices connected to the PoE-capable switch based on the current state information including a power consumption state for each of the different ones of the plurality of remote devices.