PoE Power Management via Dynamic Allocation and Priority Queues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power management systems in communications networks often allocate more power than needed to devices, leading to inefficiencies and potential operational failures due to insufficient power for all devices, with no method to prioritize power allocation or deallocate power dynamically in response to changing demands.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for dynamic power management that monitors power consumption at each port, allocates the minimum necessary power to devices, prioritizes power allocation based on user-defined criteria, and deallocates power from lower-priority devices when necessary to ensure higher-priority devices remain operational.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power is allocated to all connected devices, then all devices can operate, but power supply becomes insufficient when total power demand exceeds available power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power allocation that adjusts power distribution in real-time based on device priority levels and current power availability. When power becomes insufficient, the system dynamically deallocates power from lower-priority devices to higher-priority devices, ensuring continuous operation of critical devices while adapting to changing power conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments devices into different priority groups (high priority and low priority queues) based on their operational importance. This segmentation allows the system to selectively manage power allocation to different device groups, ensuring that high-priority devices receive guaranteed power while low-priority devices can be deallocated when power is insufficient
2Reliability
If power is allocated based on maximum power requirements, then all devices can be supported theoretically, but actual power utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors actual power consumption of devices and compares it with allocated power. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts power allocation to match actual needs rather than maximum theoretical requirements, preventing both power shortages and excessive power allocation
3Device complexity
If power allocation is static, then implementation is simple, but the system cannot adapt to changing power availability and device demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static power allocation to dynamic power allocation that automatically adapts to changing conditions. The system continuously evaluates power availability, device priority levels, and actual power consumption to adjust power distribution in real-time, enabling the network to handle varying power conditions without manual intervention
4Ease of operation
If all devices receive equal power priority, then fairness is maintained, but critical devices cannot be ensured during power shortages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different power allocation qualities to different device groups based on their priority classification. High-priority devices receive guaranteed power allocation with preferential treatment during shortages, while low-priority devices receive power only when excess capacity is available, creating localized quality differences that ensure critical device operation
Data Source
AI summary
In a communications system, such as a Power-Over-Ethernet system, where power supply equipment (PSE) supplies power to powered requiring devices (PRDs), a system and method of dynamic power management is implemented. The system and method monitors the power consumed at each port by the PRDs. Based on this monitoring, the PSE dynamically determines the minimum power which can be allocated to each PRD, and so dynamically maximizes the available reserve power. The PSE maintains a queue or queues wherein PRDs are listed in order of a power allocation priority. When additional power is available, the PSE preferentially allocates power to a PRD or PRDs which have higher priority. The system and method of the present invention minimizes the power allocated to each individual network device, as a result of which the total number of network devices that can be supported with the available power may be maximized.