US Patent 8646656 Power over ethernet powered soap or disinfectant dispenser

A system for providing power to a plurality of soap or disinfectant dispensers through a power over ethernet (PoE) network and for sensing various operational parameters of the dispensers and communicating those parameters through the network connection to a central computing device. The system includes a Data/Power controller associated with the dispensers for providing power to the dispenser and for sending and receiving data between one or more sensors in the dispensers and a central computer device.