Patent ID: 8020043

Claim:
A method, comprising: monitoring operation of a powered device to detect a failure condition, the powered device being connected to power sourcing equipment by a communications channel including inline power delivery from the power sourcing equipment to the powered device; capturing diagnostic information during system operation, the diagnostic information including (i) configuration and status information identifying the power sourcing equipment, the communications channel, and status of the inline power delivery at the time of detection of the failure condition, and (ii) failure information identifying the failure condition; storing the diagnostic information as diagnostic information signals in an electronic memory, the electronic memory being electronically accessible by an external user as part of a failure analysis process, wherein the method is performed at least in part by the power sourcing equipment, and the monitoring includes monitoring at least one of power-related signals and data-related signals from the powered device on the communications channel, and wherein: the electronic memory is located on the powered device; and the storing includes transferring the diagnostic information from the power sourcing equipment to the powered device for storage in the electronic memory.