Fiber optic communications and power network

A method for operating a connection interface device, comprising:

• requesting and receiving, by a power controller of the connection interface device, power from a networked power-providing device via a hybrid power and data connection to the networked power-providing device;
• determining, by the connection interface device, whether an end device connected to the connection interface device is a power over Ethernet (PoE) Powered Device (PD) end device;
• and
• transitioning, by the connection interface device, in response to determining that the end device is a PoE PD end device, into a power-leeching mode of operation, wherein in the power-leeching mode of operation, the power controller of the connection interface device is disabled and the connection interface device utilizes power requested from the networked power-providing device by the PoE PD end device to power components of the connection interface device.

A non-transitory, processor-readable medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon for operating a connection interface device, the processor-executable instructions, when executed by a processor, facilitating performance of the following:

• requesting power from a networked power-providing device via a hybrid power and data connection to the networked power-providing device;
• determining whether an end device connected to the connection interface device is a power over Ethernet (PoE) Powered Device (PD) end device;
• and
• controlling, in response to determining that the end device is a PoE PD end device, components of the connection interface device to transition the connection interface device into a power-leeching mode of operation, wherein in the power-leeching mode of operation, a power controller of the connection interface device is disabled and the connection interface device utilizes power requested from the networked power-providing device by the PoE PD end device to power components of the connection interface device.