Multi-station physical layer communication over TP cable

A method for providing inline power between a first and a second network device associated with a first node of a network and a third network device associated with a second node of the network, in a wired data telecommunications network, the method comprising:

• providing inline power at a first voltage level from the first network device to the third network device;
• coupling the inline power from the first network device to the second network device through a Y-device;
• monitoring the first network device at the second network device;
• and
• detecting at the second network device a condition of the first network device;
• initiating, responsive to said detecting, an impedance modulated signal from the second network device onto the wired data telecommunications network;
• receiving at the first network device, the impedance modulated signal;
• and
• backing off inline power provided between the first network device and the third network device in response to said receiving.

A method for providing inline power between a first and a second network device associated with a first node of a network and a third network device associated with a second node of the network, in a wired data telecommunications network, the method comprising:

• providing inline power at a first voltage level from the first network device to the third network device;
• coupling the inline power from the first network device to the second network device through a Y-device;
• monitoring the first network device at the second network device;
• and
• detecting at the second network device a condition of the first network device;
• initiating, responsive to said detecting, an impedance modulated signal from the second network device onto the wired data telecommunications network;
• receiving at the first network device, the impedance modulated signal;
• and
• backing off inline power provided between the first network device and the third network device in response to said receiving.

A method for providing inline power between a first and a second network device associated with a first node of a network and a third network device associated with a second node of the network, in a wired data telecommunications network, the method comprising:

• providing first inline power at a first voltage level from the first network device to the third network device;
• providing second inline power at a second voltage level from the second network device to the third network device;
• and
• selecting one of the first inline power and the second inline power at the third network device in response to the voltage level associated therewith;
• wherein the first voltage level is a first non-zero DC voltage;
• wherein the second voltage level is a second non-zero DC voltage;
• and
• wherein the first non-zero DC voltage is different from the second non-zero DC voltage.