公开(公告)号：US10030398B2

公开(公告)日：2018-07-24

申请号：US14643463

申请日：2015-03-10

Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Charles Calvin Byers ,  John Allen Long, Jr. ,  Matthew A. Laherty

IPC: E04B9/00 ,  E04B9/06 ,  E04G23/00 ,  H01R25/14 ,  E04B9/02

Abstract: A ceiling support structure includes a plurality of network- and power-enabled rails that replace conventional structures for supporting a grid ceiling having a structure for supporting tiles and/or paneling. Each network-enabled rail comprises a plurality of connectors configured to receive a device or interface. At least some of the connectors can comprise a plurality of Power over Ethernet (PoE) connectors that provide both network connectivity and power to the devices. At least some of the connectors can comprise a plurality of fiber-optic cable connectors that provide network connectivity to the devices via the fiber-optic cable. In the fiber-optic cable connector structure, power is provided directly by the ceiling support itself which is formed of a conductive material and referred to as a power distribution bar. Each rail terminates at a hub referred to as a fog junction box that serves the power and networking for the ceiling support.