Patent ID: 6909943

Claim:
A local area network comprising: a plurality of local area network nodes; an Ethernet switch assembly complying with the IEEE 802.3 standard; and, communication cabling connecting said plurality of nodes to said switch assembly for providing data communication; said Ethernet switch assembly comprising: line interface circuitry coupling power into the communication cabling, over pairs used for Ethernet communications, substantially without interfering with data communication; a controller governing the supply of power to at least some of the plurality of local area network nodes via the communication cabling; and, current limiting circuitry connected to the line interface circuitry and controlling current delivered by the line interface circuitry into the communication cabling, wherein said Ethernet switch assembly is operative to provide at least some power to at least sonic of said plurality of nodes via said communication cabling, said current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a current limit level for each node.