Patent ID: 7466819

Claim:
A local area network comprising: a first plurality of local area network nodes; a first power data combiner; first communication cabling connecting said first plurality of local area network nodes to said first power data combiner for providing data communication; a second power data combiner; and second communication cabling connecting said first power data combiner to said second power data combiner, said second power data combiner providing power to said first power data combiner via said second communication cabling, said first power data combiner comprising: line interface circuitry coupling at least some of said power provided via said second communication cabling into said first communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication; and first current limiting and sense circuitry connected to said line interface circuitry, wherein said first power data combiner is operative to provide at least some power provided via said second communication cabling to at least some of said plurality of first local area network nodes via said first communication cabling, and wherein said first current limiting and sense circuitry is operative to limit one of current and power of said provided power to each of said first plurality of local area network nodes to a maximum level and provide a minimum current threshold reference level for said provided power for each of first local area network nodes.