Data Communication Hardware Module for In-Line Power Connection with Equipment

Disclosed herein are a number of example embodiments where a hardware module is in-line power connected with an item of equipment such as a product display assembly, where the hardware module can encode data within a power signal delivered to the equipment item. The hardware module can also support data communication from the equipment item through modulation by the equipment item of current drawn from the hardware module. Such a hardware module can provide location awareness for the equipment item.