Abstract: A connector module includes a jack socket capable of receiving a communication link. The connector module also includes magnetics coupled to the jack socket for supplying power to a peripheral device coupled to the link through the jack socket. The connector module further includes Power-over-Ethernet management logic for controlling the supplying of power to the peripheral device by providing a voltage to the magnetics. In addition, the connector module includes at least one voltage isolator for isolating the voltage used by the Power-over-Ethernet management logic from at least one digitally-referenced voltage.

Abstract: A connector module includes a jack socket capable of receiving a communication link. The connector module also includes magnetics coupled to the jack socket for facilitating at least one of communication of information to a peripheral device coupled to the link and reception of information from the peripheral device. The connector module further includes physical layer logic coupled to the magnetics for supporting a physical layer protocol used to at least one of communicate the information to and receive the information from the peripheral device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, the connector module is an Ethernet jack module with embedded Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) functionality. Having a compatible pin configuration as an Ethernet jack module without PoE functionality, the connector module is adapted for placement on a circuit board employed within a switching device.