Patent ID: 8559996

Claim:
A power control subsystem for controlling the supply of power transmitted to at least one node over communication cabling, the power control subsystem comprising a current limiter arranged to limit current of the power transmitted over communication cabling to one of a plurality of values, the plurality of values being set by a plurality of programmable voltages, wherein said power control system further comprises: a plurality of references, each of the references provided by a respective one of the programmable voltages, wherein each of the plurality of programmable voltages is provided by a voltage source receiving a control signal from a management circuit; and a plurality of comparators, each of said comparators being associated with a particular one of said plurality of references, wherein said current limiter is in communication with, and responsive to, said plurality of comparators and wherein said plurality of values are a function of said plurality of references, the current limiter providing a current limited output signal to the communication cabling.