Patent ID: 7203849

Claim:
A system for power distribution of direct current (DC) power over twisted pair cabling to network devices, the system comprising: a plurality of ethernet switches each having an internal power supply and a plurality of ports grouped into a plurality of banks for connecting to the network devices via said twisted pair cabling; an external power supply having a plurality of output ports for connecting to the ethernet switches, wherein the external power supply communicates power available to the ethernet switches, wherein each ethernet switch determines amounts and priority levels of power for the network devices connected thereto, sums together the amounts at each priority level, determines additional amounts and priority levels of power required beyond the internal power supply capability, and sends a power request to the external power supply, wherein the external power supply allocates power to the ethernet switches depending on the power requests received, and wherein each ethernet switch includes a power multiplexer which is controllable so as to switch power from the internal power supply to one or more of the banks of ports and which is also controllable so as to switch power from the external power supply to one or more of the banks of ports.