Patent ID: 8225124

Claim:
A method, comprising: operating a network device from a power source at a lowest power level; applying a voltage ramp to the network device by the power source; detecting from the network device a signature impedance indicating that the network device is Power-over-Ethernet enabled; if the network device is found to be Power-over-Ethernet enabled, continuing to ramp the voltage on the signature impedance and measuring a current draw of the network device; identifying a class of power level of the network device dependant on the applied voltage and current draw; powering down and then powering up the network device at the identified power level; determining whether one or more features of the network device can be activated at the identified power level; operating the network device at the identified power level if at least one feature of the network device can be activated at the identified power level; and activating an alert to a network manager if at least one feature of the network device cannot be activated at the identified power level.