Patent ID: 7254734

Claim:
A local area network comprising: a LAN switch; a plurality of local area network nodes; a power supply subsystem comprising at least one of a voltage sensor and a current sensor; a power management and control unit; and a communication cabling connecting said plurality of local area network nodes to said power supply subsystem and to said LAN switch, said communication cabling providing data communication between said LAN switch and said plurality of local area network nodes; said power supply subsystem being operative under control of said power management and control unit to; provide at least some power via the communication cabling to said plurality of local area network nodes; monitor via said at least one of a voltage sensor and a current sensor at least one of the power consumption of, and the current flow to, each of said plurality of local area network nodes; and classify, responsive to said monitored at least one of the power consumption and the current flow, each of said plurality of local area network nodes for which said at least some power is provided via the communication cabling as alternatively one of over-current current, under current and normal. wherein in the event said power management and control unit classifies one of said plurality of local area network nodes for which at least some power is provided via the communication cabling as under current, said power management and control unit is further operative to terminate said provided power to said under current one of said plurality of local area network nodes within a predetermined time of said classification of said one of said plurality of local area network nodes as under current.