Centralized Intelligent Power Management for PoE Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network devices connected to Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) sources often face power budget constraints, leading to reduced functionality or shutdown, as PoE sources have fixed power budgets that may not meet the varying power requirements of connected devices.
Innovation Solution
A centralized Intelligent Power Management (IPM) system that collects power information from PoE sources and hosts power management profiles for devices, allowing it to adjust the functionality of network devices based on available power and device requirements, without the need for resident IPM components in the devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If PoE sources use fixed power budgets to deliver power to multiple network devices, then power delivery is simplified and standardized, but the power requirements of individual devices with varying power budgets cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
A centralized IPM system acts as an intermediary between PoE power sources and network devices. The IPM system collects power information from power sources, hosts power management profiles for devices, and dynamically adjusts device functionality based on available power budgets, enabling adaptability without modifying the PoE standard infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters of network devices by adjusting feature sets and resource allocation based on real-time power budget conditions. This allows devices to adapt their power consumption characteristics to match available power supply without hardware modifications
2Measurement precision
If network devices are equipped with resident IPM components to autonomously manage power, then power management precision is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The IPM functionality is extracted from individual network devices and centralized in a separate IPM system. This eliminates the need for resident IPM components in each device, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining centralized power management precision through the external IPM system
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized IPM system serves multiple network devices simultaneously, providing universal power management capabilities. This multi-functional approach achieves precise power management for various devices without requiring each device to have its own dedicated IPM components
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for effectuating centralized intelligent power management, where a centralized intelligent power management system receives power delivery information from power sources and power management profiles associated with devices that receive/are to receive power from such power sources. The centralized intelligent power management system can determine a given feature set support by a device, yet remains within the power delivery budget of a power source. Such a feature set can be represented as a configuration that is transmitted from the centralized intelligent power management system to a device. Upon configuring/re-configuring itself, the device may now provide the given feature set while remaining within the power constraints of its power source.