Abstract: A system and method for controlling the delivery of power to a powered device in a Power over Ethernet Broad Reach (PoE-BR) application. Cabling power loss in a PoE-BR application is related to the resistance of the cable itself. A PHY can be designed to measure electrical characteristics (e.g., insertion loss, cross talk, length, etc.) of the Ethernet cable to enable determination of the cable resistance. The determined resistance in a broad reach cable can be used in increasing a power budget allocated to a power source equipment port.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a level of compression for thin and chubby computing clients. End devices in a network can stream audio/video traffic over a network. Such a connection between the end devices can be reserved with guarantees of bandwidth and latency being obtained. Bandwidth guarantees across multiple intermediary switches can be used to define a compression level for the end devices. In one embodiment, the lowest compression level that will produce audio/video traffic that will fit in the guaranteed connection bandwidth is chosen to produce the highest quality audio/video stream.

Abstract: A system and method for discovering a cable type and resistance for Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications. Cabling power loss in PoE applications is related to the resistance of the cable itself. A PHY can be designed to measure electrical characteristics (e.g., insertion loss, cross talk, length, etc.) of the Ethernet cable to enable determination of the cable resistance. The determined resistance can be used in powering decisions and in adjusting power budgets allocated to power source equipment ports.

Abstract: An improved switch interface is provided that does not rely on direct contact by the user interface element to the switch apparatus. This feature enables the switch to be enclosed within a housing, thereby improving reliability and longevity of the switch mechanism.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for duty cycling a network port based on duty cycling of a link communicatively coupled to the port are provided. In this regard, in a network node communicatively coupled to a network link which operates at a plurality of data rates, one or more components of said network node may be cycled through a series of configurations, where a processing capacity and/or a duration of each configuration may be based on the plurality of data rates on the network link. Exemplary components of the node may comprise one or more hybrids, transmitters, receivers, processors, and/or memory elements. The components may be cycled through the series of configurations during each of a series of time intervals. The series of configurations may be based on one or more of a type of data communicated over said network link and an application running on said network node.

Abstract: A triggered restart mechanism for failure recovery in power over Ethernet (PoE). Powered devices (PDs) that fail can be remotely recycled by a power sourcing equipment (PSE). After detection of a failure of a PD, such as by the failure to receive a status message, a PSE can generate a reset signal (e.g., power cycle, reset pulse, etc.) on the port. This reset signal can cause the PD to perform a full power cycle or quick restart.

Abstract: A system and method for pre-detection in a power over Ethernet (PoE) system. A power sourcing equipment (PSE) is designed to measure a port voltage upon application of a small current source. A microcontroller controls the current source based on a comparison of the measured port voltage to a threshold voltage.

Abstract: A multi-speed burst mode serializer/de-serializer (SerDes) is configurable and can operate in one of a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes correspond to the reception of signals from optical network units that operate at different nominal speeds. These various modes of operation can enable a single SerDes design to apply to a variety of speeds and network configurations (e.g., point-to-point or point-to-multipoint). In one example, the design can be initially configured for operation with a single ONT or a network of ONTs at a single speed, or can be dynamically configured during operation for use with a network of ONTs operating at different speeds.

Abstract: A satellite aided location tracking and data services with user interface. A graphical user interface is provided that enables users to monitor the status of movable assets. Detailed information in a position history enables the user to obtain status information (e.g., starts and stops) at each position report. This status information promotes visibility into the journey of each movable asset.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling power applications over a single conductor pair. In one embodiment, data transformers are coupled to a single conductor pair using one or more direct current (DC) blocking elements that preserve an alternating current path. Power is injected onto the single conductor pair after the DC blocking elements and power is extracted from the single conductor pair before the DC blocking elements. Saturation of the data transformers by the injection of power onto the single pair is thereby prevented.

Abstract: A system and method for using an Ethernet physical layer device to identify cabling topologies. A power sourcing equipment (PSE) can power independent powered devices (PDs) using two sets of wire pairs in a single four-pair cable. Higher power PSEs can power a single PD using all four wire pairs in the cable. Conventional power over Ethernet (PoE) analog techniques (i.e., voltage, current, etc.) have a difficult time distinguishing where the wire pairs are going from the PSE. By using information (e.g., negotiated speed, link energy, distance diagnostic, etc.) generated by the physical layer device (PHY) subsystem, the PoE system can determine whether the two sets of wire pairs in a cable are powering a single PD or two independent PDs.

Abstract: A system and method for using a physical layer device to locate a thermal signature in a cable plant for diagnostic, enhanced, and higher power applications. Cable heating in specific sections of a network cable is detected through an automatic identification of a thermal signature in electrical measurements of a network cable. The correlation of the thermal signature to a specific section of the network cable enables network personnel to locate hot spots in the network cable with ease.

Abstract: A power over Ethernet (PoE) power sourcing equipment (PSE) architecture for variable maximum power delivery. PoE PSE subsystems rely on some control to “turn on” a power field effect transistor (FET), which allows current to be transmitted to a powered device (PD). A hybrid approach is provided where an internal FET can be augmented with an external FET to provide an architecture that can be flexibly applied to applications with various space, cost and cooling limitations. The maximum delivered power can also be boosted with the addition of an external FET to the internal FET.

Abstract: A system and method for modeling a power over Ethernet component using a common information model. With the profiling of components based on the common information model, a remote agent can query status/capabilities or configure a power over Ethernet component based on messaging that is consistent with a power over Ethernet common information model schema.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling secure short-range communication. A close proximity transmitter is used that is designed with a relatively poor radiator as compared to a conventional transmitter supporting conventional transmissions such as mobile phone communications, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth communication. The close-proximity transmitter and the conventional transmitter are selectively activated based on a communication mode.

Abstract: A system and method for power sourcing equipment (PSE) detection of a powered device (PD) power failure for power backup. A PSE can power a PD at a low level of power as a backup power source. Upon a failure in the PDs primary power source, the PSE can detect a transient (e.g., current and/or voltage) on the PD load as a signal that the PD requires additional power. The PSE can then allocate increased power to the port by entering into an active state as compared to a backup state. As the PSE is responsive to the detection of the transient, the PSE need not rely on a real-time communication from the PD.

Abstract: A meter enabled for wireless communication and a wireless communication network are disclosed. A meter enabled for wireless communication comprises a metering device, a wireless communication system and an interface between the two. Meter data can be read, and the meter can be controlled via communication with a wireless network using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol A self-configuring wireless network is also disclosed. The wireless network includes a number of vnodes, and one or more VGATES. The vnodes are devices that are enabled for wireless communication using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol. Vnodes are operative to form ad hoc piconet connections. The one or more VGATES comprise computer network gateways that are enabled for wireless communication using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol. Thus, the VGATES enable the wireless array of vnodes to communicate with a private or public computer network to transmit data or receive commands. The network may also communicate with a VNOC system.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced accuracy in cable diagnostics of cable length. Conventional cable diagnostics such as time domain reflectometry can be used to determine cable length. This conventional technique can have accuracy limitations in certain situation such as with perfectly terminated cable. A cable length can also be determined through the use of link delay measurements that are based on clock synchronization between nodes in a network. Notwithstanding the accuracy issues of these link delay measurements, overall accuracy can be increased through the combination of the two cable length delay measurements into a final estimate.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically swapping master and slave physical layer devices (PHYs) in energy efficient Ethernet (EEE). A physical layer communication mechanism can be used to dynamically reassign the master/slave assignments to facilitate the asymmetric application of EEE to a link.

Abstract: A system and method for satellite aided location tracking and data services using geosynchronous (GEO) and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites with global locating system. In one embodiment, a mobile terminal is designed for communication with both GEO and LEO satellites. This dual satellite functionality enables the asset tracking service to provide service across international service areas without hardware modification or reconfiguration of the mobile terminal device.