Patent ID: 7441133

Claim:
A method for rapidly powering a plurality of power over Ethernet ports, the method comprising: inputting an indication of available power; allocating a power budget to each of a first plurality of power over Ethernet devices, each of said power over Ethernet devices powering at least one power over Ethernet port, said power budget being a function of said indication of available power; transmitting, in the event that said indication of available power is greater than a first predetermined amount, an enabling command to said first plurality of power over Ethernet devices, said command enabling the powering of ports of a first priority associated with said first plurality of power over Ethernet devices, each of said first plurality of power over Ethernet devices powering ports of said first priority within said power budget; and transmitting, in the event that said indication of an amount of available power is not greater than said first predetermined amount, an enabling command to one of a single power over Ethernet device and a second plurality of power over Ethernet devices, said second plurality being a subset of said first plurality, said command enabling the powering of ports of said first priority associated with said one of a single power over Ethernet device and a second plurality of power over Ethernet devices, each of said one of a single power over Ethernet device and a second plurality of power over Ethernet devices powering ports of said first priority within said power budget.