INTERMEDIARY DEVICE FOR EXTRACTING POWER SUPPLIED OVER A DATA CONNECTION

Technologies exist that allow for power to be supplied over a data connection, e.g., Power over Ethernet (PoE). Power sourcing equipment (PSE) supplies power to a powered device (PD) over the data connection. There may be applications in which it is desired or necessary to insert an intermediary device on a data connection between the PSE and the PD. An intermediary device is disclosed that can be inserted between a PSE and a PD. The intermediary device attempts to power itself using power supplied by the PSE over the data connection, rather than using an auxiliary power supply. In some embodiments, the intermediary device acts like a PD and requests from the PSE enough power for both itself and the actual PD. The intermediary device then also acts as a PSE to deliver unused power over the data connection to the actual PD.