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US 8,284,798 B2Granted
PoE communication bus, interface, and protocol between PoE subsystem and PHY or switch subsystems
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorWael William Diab
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a communications interface system. The communications interface system includes one or more protocol modules configured to include interface protocols that facilitate direct communication between a switching subsystem, a physical layer subsystem, and a Power over Ethernet subsystem. The protocol modules are connectable to a communications bus, the direct communication occurring across the communications bus in accordance with the protocols.
Claims20
A communications interface comprising:
- one or more protocol modules including interface protocols to facilitate communication between a switching device, a physical layer (PHY) device, and a Power over Ethernet (PoE) device, the PoE device being separated from the switching device and the PHY device by an isolation boundary;
- wherein the protocol modules are connectable to a communications bus, the communication occurring in accordance with the protocols;
- and
- wherein the switching device and the PHY device are configured for direct connection to each other and to the PoE device, the direct connection occurring (i) within the communications bus and (ii) across the isolation boundary.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- one or more protocol modules including interface protocols to facilitate communication between a switch, a physical layer (PHY) device, and a Power over Ethernet (PoE) device, the PoE device being separated from the switch and the PHY device by an isolation boundary;
- wherein the protocol modules are connectable to a communications bus, the communication occurring in accordance with the protocols;
- and
- wherein the switch and the PHY device are configured for direct connection to each other and to the PoE device, and the direct connection occurs (i) within the communications bus and (ii) across the isolation boundary.
1 more element
A communications interface comprising:
- one or more protocol modules including interface protocols to facilitate communication between a Power over Ethernet (PoE) device and at least one of a switching device and a physical layer (PHY) device, the PoE device being separated from the at least one of the switching device and the PHY device by an isolation boundary;
- wherein the protocol modules are connectable to a communications bus, the communication occurring in accordance with the protocols;
- and
- wherein the at least one switching device and PHY device are configured for direct connection to each other and to the PoE device, the direct connection occurring (i) within the communications bus and (ii) across the isolation boundary.
1 more element
A communications interface comprising:
- one or more protocol modules including interface protocols to facilitate communication between a Power over Ethernet (PoE) device and only one of a switching device and a physical layer (PHY) device during a communications session, the PoE device being separated from the only one of the switching device and the PHY device by an isolation boundary;
- wherein the protocol modules are connectable to a communications bus, the communication occurring in accordance with the protocols;
- and
- wherein the only one switching device and the PHY device are configured for direct connection to each other and to the PoE device, the direct connection occurring (i) within the communications bus and (ii) across the isolation boundary.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.