Inventors:
Robert Bell - Bountiful UT, US
Assignee:
Cisco Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA
International Classification:
G06F001/26
US Classification:
713300, 713310, 713320, 713340, 710313, 710315, 710300, 710303
Abstract:
The invention is directed to techniques for discovering a powerability condition of a computer network such as the existence of a remotely powerable device attached to a connecting medium of the computer network. Such detection can then control whether a remote power source (e. g. , a data communications device such as a switch) provides remote power (e. g. , phantom power) to the computer network. One arrangement of the invention is directed to an apparatus for discovering a powerability condition of a computer network. The apparatus includes a signal generator, a detector and a controller which is coupled to the signal generator and the detector. The controller configures the signal generator to provide a test signal to a connecting medium of the computer network, and configures the detector to measure a response signal from the connecting medium of the computer network. The controller then indicates whether a remotely powerable device connects to the connecting medium of the computer network based on the response signal. Accordingly, if the apparatus discovers a remotely powerable device attached to the computer network (i. e.