System for providing power over Ethernet through a patch panel

A system for providing power over Ethernet comprising:

• a power sourcing device, said power sourcing device providing a plurality of current limited power signals;
• and
• a power ready patch panel detachably connected to at least one of said plurality of current limited power signals, said power ready patch panel comprising:
• a plurality of ports for connecting a node connecting cable, the node connecting cable comprising a plurality of twisted wire pairs providing a data communication and power path to a particular node connecting jack;
• a plurality of ports for connecting a patch cable, each of said plurality of ports for connecting a patch cable being associated with a unique one of said plurality of ports for connecting a node connecting cable;
• and
• an operative connection between said detachably connected at least one current limited power signal and at least one of said plurality of ports for connecting a node connecting cable.

A method of powering nodes in a data network, the method comprising:

• detachably receiving a current limited power signal;
• connecting one end of a cable comprising a plurality of twisted wire pairs, the cable providing a data communication path to a node connecting jack;
• connecting one end of a patch cable to provide data communication for said node connecting jack;
• operatively connecting said connected one end of a patch cable to said connected one end of a cable;
• operatively connecting said detachably received current limited power to said connected one end of a cable thereby providing power to the node;
• providing a source of said detachably received current limited power signal;
• signaling a type indication to said provided source;
• and
• operating said provided source responsive to said signaled type indication.

A method of flexibly providing power in a structured cabling system, the method comprising:

• providing a source of a plurality of current limited power signals;
• providing a power ready patch panel, said power ready patch panel providing detachable connections for said plurality of current limited power signals, said power ready patch panel further exhibiting a plurality of ports for connecting a node connecting cable and a plurality of ports for connecting a patch cable, each of said plurality of ports for connecting a patch cable being operatively connected via pairs of conductors to a unique one of said plurality of ports for connecting a node connecting cable, each of said detachable connections being operatively connected to inject said detachably connected current limited power signal to at least one of said pairs of conductors;
• connecting each of said plurality of ports for connecting a node connecting cable of said provided power ready patch panel to a unique node connecting jack;
• connecting each of said plurality of ports for connecting a cable to a data communication path thereby providing data communication for a node connected to said node connecting jack;
• and
• detachably connecting said providing plurality of current limited power signals to said detachable connection, thereby providing power to the node connected to said node connecting jack without affecting data communication.