Ethernet Redundancy Device for Seamless Power and Data Switchover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wired data telecommunications networks face challenges in providing redundancy for both power and data delivery, especially in scenarios where equipment failure occurs, as they lack efficient mechanisms for seamless switchover and continuous operation.
Innovation Solution
A redundancy system that utilizes a redundancy device to monitor and switch between multiple relay uplinks, ensuring continuous data and power delivery to a protected device by designating one uplink as active and the others as redundant, using protocols like BFD for failure detection and switchover, and employing inline power to maintain operation without additional cabling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundancy is added to provide backup power and data paths, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power delivery and data communication into a single Ethernet cable using Power over Ethernet (POE) technology. This allows a single cable to serve dual purposes: carrying both electrical power and data signals, thereby providing redundancy for both power and data without requiring separate backup systems that would increase complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The Ethernet cable is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a power transmission medium and a data communication channel. The POE-enabled switch and powered device work together to provide both power delivery and data redundancy through the same physical infrastructure, reducing the need for additional dedicated backup components.
2Reliability
If traditional redundancy systems are implemented with separate backup power and data paths, then fail-safe operation is improved, but additional cabling and installation complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for separate backup power and data cables by merging both functions into a single Ethernet cable. The POE technology enables the primary cable to provide both power and data transmission, and the same cable structure supports redundancy mechanisms without requiring additional physical cabling.
Solution Approach 2:
The Ethernet infrastructure is designed to be universal, serving as both power and data transmission medium. This multi-functional approach allows redundancy to be achieved through software and control mechanisms rather than additional physical cables, simplifying installation while maintaining fail-safe operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If POE is used to deliver power and data over the same cable, then ease of installation is improved, but power allocation and management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The POE system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the powered device communicates its power requirements and status to the POE-enabled switch. The switch uses this feedback information to dynamically allocate power from the available power budget, managing multiple powered devices efficiently based on their actual needs rather than static configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts power delivery parameters based on device requirements and available capacity. The POE standard enables variable power allocation where the switch can modify voltage and current parameters in real-time to match the actual power needs of connected devices, optimizing power distribution while maintaining system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and method for providing redundancy of communications and/or inline power to a powered Ethernet device are disclosed. A redundancy device is configured to receive in-line data and/or power from a plurality of Ethernet relay uplinks and to monitor communications between the relay uplinks. One of the relay uplinks is established as an active state uplink and passes data and/or power to the power device. Responsive to a switchover communication from a redundant uplink, the redundancy device establishes the redundant uplink as the active uplink, thereby passing data and/or power from the redundant uplink to the power device. The relay uplinks may use packet-based communication to sense when there is a failure in a link, and replace a failed device with a redundant device.