| 20090070615 | Multiple power supply management scheme in a power over ethernet (POE) system - An apparatus and method is disclosed to manage multiple power supplies in a Power over Ethernet (PoE) communication system. The PoE communication system provides PoE to one or more powered devices (PDs) using one or more DC voltage supplies. The PoE communication system includes a power source equipment (PSE) controller that monitors the one or more DC voltage supplies based on the dynamic needs of one or more PDs using power status indicators received via a power bank data interface. The PSE controller includes a multiple power supply management (MPSM) module to receive the power status indicators via the power bank data interface. The MPSM module compares the values of received power status indicators with default or stored power status indicators. When the value of received power status indicators differ from the stored power status indicators, the MPSM module communicates a power down signal to a port controller via a port controller interface and/or an interrupt signal to a microcontroller via a shared communication interface. The power down signal allows the port controller to rapidly remove power from one or more data ports in the PoE system in response to the alteration in the amount of power available for PoE. The interrupt signal allows the microcontroller to respond to the alteration in the amount of power available for PoE. | 03-12-2009 |
