Abstract: A powered device interface arranged as an interface between power received over a structured communication cabling and a powered device, the powered device interface constituted of: a class event counter; a logic circuit in communication with the class event counter; and a plurality of flag outputs each responsive to the logic circuit, each of the flag outputs associated with a predetermined powering level of a power sourcing equipment connected over the structured communication cabling, the logic circuit arranged to: output an active signal at the flag output associated with a detected powering level of the connected power sourcing equipment; and output an active signal at all other flag outputs associated with powering levels less than the detected powering level of the connected power sourcing equipment.

Abstract: A power sourcing equipment (PSE) exhibiting a low power sleep mode, the PSE constituted of: a sleep control circuitry comprising a first timer; an effective resistance threshold detector responsive to the sleep control circuitry and arranged to detect whether the effective resistance across the output port of the PSE is less than a predetermined threshold; and a detection and powering circuitry responsive to the sleep control circuitry, wherein the sleep control circuitry is arranged to load the first timer with a first predetermined time period, and at the expiration of the first predetermined time period: activate the effective resistance threshold detector for a second predetermined time period; and in the event the effective resistance threshold detector detects that the effective resistance across the output port of the PSE is less than the predetermined threshold, enable the detection and powering circuitry.