PoE Powered Device Multi-PSE Power Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) systems do not effectively address Powered Devices (PDs) pulling power from multiple disparate Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) interfaces, leading to potential system failures and inefficiencies in power distribution.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of control circuitry in PDs that determines the necessary power requirements and allocates power from multiple PSEs across isolated Ethernet links to maintain optimal operation, ensuring that each PSE delivers power within safe isolation boundaries, allowing for load balancing and mode transitions based on available power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a powered device draws power from multiple disparate power sourcing equipment interfaces, then the total power availability increases, but the system complexity and potential for interference between power sources increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal power availabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the power distribution system into isolated segments, where each power sourcing equipment interface is electrically separated by isolation boundaries. This allows multiple PSEs to independently power a single PD without direct electrical interaction, maintaining system complexity management while enabling aggregated power delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses isolation boundaries as intermediary elements between multiple PSEs and the PD. These isolation boundaries act as mediators that prevent direct electrical interaction between disparate power sources while allowing power to be delivered through separate Ethernet links, thus reducing system complexity and interference potential.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If a powered device draws power from multiple disparate power sourcing equipment interfaces, then the power capacity increases, but the reliability and stability of power delivery decreases due to potential system failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower capacityVSAvoidpower delivery stability

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by establishing isolation boundaries in advance between multiple PSEs and the PD. These isolation boundaries serve as protective measures that prevent failure propagation between power sources before actual failures occur, thereby maintaining power delivery stability while enabling increased power capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

Isolation boundaries function as intermediary protective elements that enhance reliability by preventing direct electrical interaction between disparate PSEs. This mediation ensures that failures in one power source do not propagate to other power sources or the powered device, maintaining stable power delivery across multiple sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If power is distributed from multiple power sourcing equipment to a single powered device, then power allocation flexibility increases, but the difficulty of managing and controlling power distribution increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower allocation flexibilityVSAvoidpower management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by creating electrically isolated segments for each PSE-PD connection. This segmentation simplifies power management by allowing each isolated segment to be controlled independently through standard PoE protocols, thereby maintaining power allocation flexibility while reducing overall management complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent leverages the universality of PoE standards across multiple isolated segments. Each PSE-PD connection follows the same PoE protocol specifications, allowing flexible power allocation across multiple sources while managing complexity through standardized, multi-functional interfaces that can be uniformly controlled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11086373B2Systems and methods for powering a power-over-ethernet powered device using multiple power-over-ethernet sourcing devices

Publication Date: 2021.08.10 EXTREME NETWORKS INC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided herein for implementing a PoE system comprising a plurality of power sourcing equipment that power a single powered device. Control circuitry may determine the power necessary to operate a powered device in a first power mode, and may cause the powered device to draw, from a first power sourcing device, to a first port of the powered device, a first wattage. The powered device may draw, from a second power sourcing device, to a second port of a powered device, a second wattage, where a sum of the first and second wattage equals the amount of power necessary to operate in the first power mode, wherein a first isolation boundary isolates the first power sourcing equipment, the first Ethernet link, and the first port, and wherein a second isolation boundary isolates the second power sourcing equipment, the second Ethernet link, and the second port.