Power over TCP
Overview
- Power is transmitted as payload in the TCP packet.
- During the TCP handshake, the requested current and voltage are encoded in optional header options.
- To power on, the device opens a connection to a Power Provider and specifies the parameters for the required power in the optional TCP header.
Features
- Digital Power: The power is transmitted digitally. There is no loss due to resistance of the cable.
- Discovery: A device can discover a Power Provider on the local network using the Dynamic Power Discovery Protocol (DPDP).
- Routing: The inherent routing capabilities of the Internet Protocol are utilized and power is routed to the endpoint wherever it is needed.
- Multiple Endpoints: Due to the utilization of TCP, an endpoint has access to several connections carrying different configurations of current and voltage.
- Wireless LAN: Mobile devices are enabled to power on and operate without any connection to the power grid. A battery is not required any more. Internet Service Providers can enhance their hot spots to provide power and network connectivity at the same time.
- VPPN: Corporate users can rely on their employer to provide power via Virtual Private Power Networks (VPPNs).
- Firewalls: Unauthorized power transmission can be intercepted and the power can be reused by the device, either to power the infrastructure or to offer power to internal devices.
- Encryption: By encrypting power, the power provider can prevent unauthorized usage of the transmitted payload.
Advantages
- In data centers, the distribution of power plugs is not necessary any longer because a single power provider can transmit power via the existing networking infrastructure.
- A firewall attacked by a malicious power provider can reuse the received power.
- The first law of thermodynamics (conservation of energy) does not apply to Power-over-TCP because a broadcast is able to distribute (the same) power to multiple endpoints at the same time.
