Patent ID: 8595516

Claim:
A power over Ethernet management method in a chassis system having a plurality of blades that distribute power from a plurality of power supplies, comprising: generating power supply status signals that are reflective of a status of the plurality of power supplies; selecting, by each blade, a set of ports for activation, wherein said selection is based on a value of said power supply status signals; identifying, for a first of said plurality of blades, a highest priority non-powered port and a lowest priority powered port, said highest priority non-powered port representing a port in said first of said plurality of blades that has the highest priority among all non-powered ports in said first of said plurality of blades, said lowest priority powered port representing a port in said first of said plurality of blades that has the lowest priority among all powered ports in said first of said plurality of blades; identifying, for at least a second of said plurality of blades, a highest priority non-powered port and a lowest priority power port; determining whether said highest priority non-powered port in said first of said plurality of blades has a higher priority than said lowest priority powered port in said second of said plurality of blades; and if said highest priority non-powered port in said first of said plurality of blades has a higher priority than said lowest priority powered port in said second of said plurality of blades, then adjusting said chassis system such that said highest priority non-powered port in said first of said plurality of blades is powered.