Abstract: A power control system arranged for use in a power-over-Ethernet system and a method of operating the power control system are generally disclosed. The power control system may comprises a battery, a battery charging unit connected to, and for charging, the battery and a processor arranged to monitor the charge level of the battery and, in response, to direct current to, or away from, the battery. The method may comprise the steps of monitoring the current requirement of and the current supplied to, the load; monitoring the charge level of the battery; monitoring the current supplied by the power sourcing device; and adjusting the current supplied to the load, the current supplied by the power sourcing device and charge level of the battery in response to said monitoring.

Abstract: A power control system arranged for use in a power-over-Ethernet system comprises a battery (38), a battery charging unit (40) connected to, and for charging, the battery (38) and a processor (34) arranged to monitor the charge level of the battery (38) and, in response, to direct current to, or away from, the battery (38). A power-over-Ethernet (PoE) system for delivering power to a load comprises a powered device (14) and an Ethernet power sourcing device (20) configured to supply DC power to the powered device (14). The powered device (14) has a battery (38), a battery charge unit (40), and a processor (34). The processor (34) is arranged to monitor the current requirement of the load (16), and to control the charging of the battery (38) and the supply of current from the battery (38) to the load (16) in response to said monitoring.