Central piece of network equipment

DC CAFC

US 9,019,838 B2
Filed: 09/14/2012
Issued: 04/28/2015
Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1998
Status: Expired due to Fees

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First Claim

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1. A central piece of network equipment comprising:

at least one Ethernet connector comprising first and second pairs of contacts used to carry BaseT Ethernet communication signals; and

the central piece of network equipment to detect different magnitudes of DC current flow via at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts and to control application of at least one electrical condition to at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts in response to at least one of the magnitudes of the DC current flow.

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Abstract

A central piece of network equipment having at least one Ethernet connector having first and second pairs of contacts used to carry BaseT Ethernet communication signals and at least one electrical supply used by the central piece of network equipment to change impedance between at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts.

634 Citations

92 Claims

1. A central piece of network equipment comprising:
- at least one Ethernet connector comprising first and second pairs of contacts used to carry BaseT Ethernet communication signals; and
  
  the central piece of network equipment to detect different magnitudes of DC current flow via at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts and to control application of at least one electrical condition to at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts in response to at least one of the magnitudes of the DC current flow.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
- - 2. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow are part of a detection protocol.
  - 3. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein to control the application of the at least one electrical condition is part of a detection protocol.
  - 4. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the magnitudes of the DC current flow is part of a detection protocol.
  - 5. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to provide at least one DC current via at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts and to detect location information within the DC current via the at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts.
  - 6. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to provide at least one DC current via at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts and to detect identifying information within the DC current via the at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts.
  - 7. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to provide at least one DC current via at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts and to detect distinguishing information within the DC current via the at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts.
  - 8. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein information is related to at least one of the magnitudes of the DC current flow.
  - 9. The central piece of network equipment of claim 8 wherein the related information is a predetermined electrical aspect.
  - 10. The central piece of network equipment of claim 8 wherein the related information is a predetermined physical aspect.
  - 11. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to detect a physical connection of an end device to the central piece of network equipment.
  - 12. The central piece of network equipment of claim 11 wherein the central piece of network equipment to control application of the at least one electrical condition in response to the physical connection.
  - 13. The central piece of network equipment of claim 11 wherein the flow of DC current to indicate the physical connection.
  - 14. The central piece of network equipment of claim 11 wherein the central piece of network equipment is actually detecting the physical connection of an end device.
  - 15. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to detect a physical disconnection of an end device from the central piece of network equipment.
  - 16. The central piece of network equipment of claim 15 wherein the central piece of network equipment to control application of the at least one electrical condition in response in respond to the physical disconnection.
  - 17. The central piece of network equipment of claim 15 wherein cessation in the flow of DC current to indicate the physical disconnection.
  - 18. The central piece of network equipment of claim 15 wherein the central piece of network equipment is actually detecting the physical disconnection of an end device.
  - 19. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment comprises a controller to control application of the at least one electrical condition to at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts.
  - 20. The central piece of network equipment of claim 19 wherein the at least one electrical condition is at least one voltage condition.
  - 21. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to detect the different magnitudes of DC current flow via at least one center tap of at least one isolation transformer.
  - 22. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to control application of the at least one electrical condition via at least one center tap of at least one isolation transformer.
  - 23. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one Ethernet connector comprises first and second Ethernet connectors wherein each of the first and second Ethernet connectors comprises first and second pairs of contacts used to carry Ethernet communication signals.
  - 24. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one Ethernet connector comprises first and second Ethernet connectors, each of the first and second Ethernet connectors comprise first and second pairs of contacts used to carry Ethernet communication signals,wherein the central piece of network equipment to detect different magnitudes of DC current flow via at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts of the first Ethernet connector,wherein the central piece of network equipment to detect different magnitudes of DC current flow via at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts of the second Ethernet connector.
  - 25. The central piece of network equipment of claim 24 wherein the central piece of network equipment to control application of at least one electrical condition to at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts of the first Ethernet connector in response to at least one of the magnitudes of the DC current flow and wherein the central piece of network equipment to control application of at least one electrical condition to at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts of the second Ethernet connector in response to at least one of the magnitudes of the DC current flow.
  - 26. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to distinguish one end device from at least one other end device based on at least one of the magnitudes of the DC current flow.
  - 27. The central piece of network equipment of claim 26 wherein the at least one magnitude of DC current flow to result from at least one impedance condition.
  - 28. The central piece of network equipment of claim 26 wherein the at least one magnitude of DC current flow to result from at least one voltage condition.
  - 29. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to distinguish one network object from at least one other network object based on at least one of the magnitudes of the DC current flow.
  - 30. The central piece of network equipment of claim 29 wherein the at least one magnitude of DC current flow to result from at least one impedance condition.
  - 31. The central piece of network equipment of claim 29 wherein the at least one magnitude of DC current flow to result from at least one voltage condition.
  - 32. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment comprises one or more electrical components to detect the different magnitudes of DC current flow.
  - 33. The central piece of network equipment of claim 32 wherein one end of a first conductor is coupled to one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and one end of a second conductor is coupled to one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts and the at least one or more electrical components is coupled between the other end of the first conductor and the other end of the second conductor.
  - 34. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow comprise at least one interval.
  - 35. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnitude of DC current flow comprises at least one interval.
  - 36. The central piece of network equipment of claim 34 wherein each magnitude of DC current flow comprises a separate interval.
  - 37. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow occur within consecutive intervals.
  - 38. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment comprises at least one DC supply.
  - 39. The central piece of network equipment of claim 38 wherein the at least one DC supply to provide at least one DC power signal.
  - 40. The central piece of network equipment of claim 39 wherein the central piece of network equipment to control application of the at least one DC power signal.
  - 41. The central piece of network equipment of claim 38 wherein the at least one DC supply is a voltage supply.
  - 42. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment comprises at least one DC supply and the at least one DC supply is physically coupled between the at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and the at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts.
  - 43. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment comprises at least one DC supply and the at least one DC supply is electrically coupled between the at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and the at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts.
  - 44. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment comprises at least one DC power source.
  - 45. The central piece of network equipment of claim 44 wherein the at least one DC power source is integrated into the central piece of network equipment.
  - 46. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrical condition is a blocking condition.
  - 47. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrical condition comprises at least one voltage condition.
  - 48. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the magnitudes of DC current flow comprises at least two different magnitudes of the DC current flow.
  - 49. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow result from at least one impedance condition.
  - 50. The central piece of network equipment of claim 49 wherein the at least one impedance condition is coupled between at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts.
  - 51. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein at least one of the different magnitudes of DC current comprises information.
  - 52. The central piece of network equipment of claim 51 wherein the information is related to an Ethernet end device.
  - 53. The central piece of network equipment of claim 52 wherein the information comprises a physical aspect.
  - 54. The central piece of network equipment of claim 52 wherein the information comprises an electrical aspect.
  - 55. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow comprise a first magnitude followed by a second magnitude.
  - 56. The central piece of network equipment of claim 55 wherein the first magnitude is greater than the second magnitude.
  - 57. The central piece of network equipment of claim 55 wherein the second magnitude is greater than the first magnitude.
  - 58. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second pairs of contacts is actually carrying Ethernet communication signals.
  - 59. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment actually detects a magnitude of DC current flow.
  - 60. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment is actually responding to the at least one electrical condition.
  - 61. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment is actually controlling application of the at least one electrical condition to the at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts.
  - 62. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to change impedance between at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts.
  - 63. The central piece of network equipment of claim 62 wherein the central piece of network equipment to use at least one DC supply to change the impedance.
  - 64. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein at least one end device is physically connected to the central piece of network equipment.
  - 65. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment is actually installed within a network.
  - 66. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein at least one BaseT end device is physically connected to the central piece of network equipment.
  - 67. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to begin application of the at least one electrical condition to at least one of the first and second pairs of contacts of the Ethernet connector.
  - 68. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to cease application of the at least one electrical condition to at least one of the first and second pairs of contacts of the Ethernet connector.
  - 69. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnitude of DC current flow is used by the central piece of network equipment to control application of at least one DC power signal.
  - 70. The central piece of network equipment of claim 69 wherein the at least one DC power signal to operate one or more electrical components.
  - 71. The central piece of network equipment of claim 70 wherein the one or more electrical components are physically associated to an Ethernet end device.
  - 72. The central piece of network equipment of claim 71 wherein at least one of the electrical components comprises a resistor.
  - 73. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to measure the different magnitudes of DC current flow in order to detect the different magnitudes of DC current flow.
  - 74. The central piece of network equipment of claim 73 wherein the central piece of network equipment is actually measuring the different magnitudes of DC current flow in order to detect the different magnitudes of DC current flow.
  - 75. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment is a pass-through device.
  - 76. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment is an Ethernet device.
  - 77. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment is a patch panel.
  - 78. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment is a piece of data communications equipment.
  - 79. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment comprises a server.
  - 80. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment comprises a database.
  - 81. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment comprises asset management software.
  - 82. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to connect to another central piece of network equipment.
  - 83. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to connect to the internet.
  - 84. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein impedance between the at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and the at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts is further used by the central piece of network equipment to protect an end device.
  - 85. The central piece of network equipment of claim 84 wherein the impedance between the at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and the at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts is physically associated to an end device.
  - 86. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein impedance between the at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and the at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts is further used by the central piece of network equipment to physically protect an end device.
  - 87. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the first pair of contacts consists of contacts 1 and 2 and the second pair of contacts consists of contacts 3 and 6.
  - 88. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein at least one powered off end device is physically connected to the piece of central network equipment and wherein the piece of central network equipment to detect at least one magnitude of DC current flow related to the end device.
  - 89. The central piece of network equipment of claim 88 the piece of central network equipment to control application of the at least one electrical condition in response to the at least one magnitude of DC current flow.
  - 90. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow comprises a series of magnitudes.
  - 91. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow occur on a regular interval.
  - 92. The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to provide an automatic response to at least one magnitude of the DC current flow.

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
ChriMar Systems, Inc. (ChriMar Holding Company LLC)
Original Assignee
ChriMar Systems, Inc. (ChriMar Holding Company LLC)
Inventors
Austermann, John F. III, Cummings, Marshall B.
Primary Examiner(s)
Pham, Chi H
Assistant Examiner(s)
HYUN, SOON D

Application Number

US13/615,734
Publication Number

US 20130010846A1
Time in Patent Office

956 Days
Field of Search

None
US Class Current

370/241
CPC Class Codes

H01R 2107/00   Four or more poles

H01R 24/64   for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45

H04B 2203/5445   Local network

H04B 2203/5458   Monitor sensor; Alarm systems

H04B 2203/5466   using three phases conductors

H04B 2203/547   via DC power distribution

H04B 2203/5491   using filtering and bypassing

H04B 2203/5495   having measurements and tes...

H04B 3/54   Systems for transmission vi...

H04L 1/24   Testing correct operation

H04L 25/0278   Arrangements for impedance ...

Central piece of network equipment

First Claim

1 Assignment

Litigations

6 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

634 Citations

92 Claims

Specification

Solutions

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Central piece of network equipment

First Claim

1 Assignment

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Subscription Required

Litigations

6 Petitions

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Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

634 Citations

92 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links