Patent ID: 8539259

Claim:
A power over Ethernet system comprising: a power sourcing equipment; and a powered device connected to the power sourcing equipment over a communication cabling, said power sourcing equipment comprising a classification functionality arranged to: provide a first classification voltage for a first classification cycle time, said provided first classification voltage being within a classification voltage range defined by a lower classification voltage limit and upper classification voltage limit; provide, subsequent to said first classification cycle time, an indexing voltage outside of said classification voltage range for a classification indexing time; provide, subsequent to said classification indexing time, a second classification voltage for a second classification cycle time, said provided second classification voltage being within said classification voltage range; provide, subsequent to said second predetermined classification cycle time, a signature voltage for a voltage signature time, said signature voltage being below said classification voltage range, said powered device comprising: a control circuitry; a voltage sensor in communication with said control circuitry; and an indicator responsive to said control circuitry, said control circuitry arranged to detect, via said voltage sensor, said first classification voltage, said indexing voltage and said second classification voltage and set said indicator to a first predetermined state responsive to said detected first classification voltage, indexing voltage and second classification voltage.