Endspan-Midspan PoE Power Sharing Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems face challenges in supporting higher power supplies, particularly in already deployed systems where upgrading power supply capabilities is difficult or requires complete replacement of equipment, especially in systems with limited power supply and ports designed for lower power.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an endspan-midspan configuration in PoE systems, which allows concurrent usage of both endspan and midspan powering to fully exploit the maximum power transmission capacity of Ethernet cables, and includes power management schemes to intelligently allocate power between the endspan and midspan Power Source Equipment (PSE) based on the required power of Powered Devices (PD).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If existing PoE systems with limited power supply capabilities are upgraded to support higher power, then power supply capability is improved, but system complexity and replacement cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the PoE system into endspan PSE and midspan PSE components, allowing power to be supplied from multiple independent sources rather than requiring a complete system replacement. This enables incremental power capacity increases while maintaining existing infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines endspan PSE and midspan PSE functionalities to work concurrently, merging their power output capabilities to achieve higher total power delivery to PDs without requiring replacement of existing equipment.
2Power
If existing PoE systems are replaced to support higher power, then power supply capability is improved, but deployment difficulty and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces midspan PSE as a preliminary addition to existing endspan PoE systems, allowing power capacity to be extended before full system replacement would be needed. This enables gradual upgrading without disrupting existing deployments.
Solution Approach 2:
The midspan PSE acts as an intermediary component that bridges existing endspan PoE infrastructure with higher power requirements, enabling incremental upgrades without requiring complete system replacement or complex reconfiguration.
3Power
If single PSE is used to power PD, then system simplicity is maintained, but maximum power transmission capacity of Ethernet cable is not fully utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power allocation where endspan PSE and midspan PSE can flexibly adjust their power output based on PD requirements and available capacity, optimizing total power utilization while maintaining manageable system complexity through intelligent control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where PSEs monitor PD power requirements and cable transmission capacity, dynamically adjusting power distribution between endspan and midspan sources to maximize utilization without exceeding cable limits or overcomplicating the system.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for higher power PoE are provided. Embodiments overcome system limitations to PSE power scaling by using an endspan-midspan configuration which allocates power to the PD from both an endspan PSE and a midspan PSE. Embodiments are particularly suitable for deployed PoE systems having limited power supplies and/or ports designed for lower power. Further, embodiments include power management schemes to enable the proposed endspan-midspan configuration to intelligently allocate power between the endspan PSE and the midspan PSE according to required PD power.