# US 10,871,816 B2 · Module device and broadcast system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,816 B2 - Document ID: US10871816B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/307,075 - Filed: 2017-06-06 - Published: 2019-05-16 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-16 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Sensaburo Nakamura; Shunta Echigoya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871816B2 ## CPC - H02J 13/38: the equipment being power outlets - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/266: {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips} - G06F 1/28: Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision - G06F 1/305: {in the event of power-supply fluctuations} - G06F 1/3206: Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality - H02J 1/06: Two-wire DC power distribution systems - H02J 13/00: Circuit arrangements for providing remote monitoring or remote control of equipment in a power distribution network - H02J 13/1337: {involving the use of Internet protocols} - H02J 13/34: the equipment being switches, relays or circuit breakers - H04L 12/10: Current supply arrangements - H04L 12/12: Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof - H04L 12/28: characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] (wireless communication networks H04W {; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00}) - H04L 12/2878: {Access multiplexer, e.g. DSLAM (generic distributed time multiplexers, e.g. TDM/TDMA H04J3/1694)} - H04L 12/4625: {Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge} - H04L 43/00: Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks - H04L 49/40: Constructional details, e.g. power supply, mechanical construction or backplane - H02J 13/10: characterised by displaying of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition [SCADA] systems - Y02D 30/50: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate - Y04S 10/40: Display of information, e.g. of data or controls - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract Provided is a plurality of modules containing a computer that has a network interface to which power is supplied with PoE. The plurality of modules is connected to a network. A first module that receives a response indicating that requested power is not able to be supplied from the network performs a process of displaying an abnormality. The first module notifies a second module of the abnormality via the network. The second module controls display of the abnormality when the second module is notified of the abnormality. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A module device, comprising: a plurality of modules, wherein each module of the plurality of modules includes a central processing unit (CPU), the CPU includes a network interface configured to receive power from a network by power over ethernet (PoE), the plurality of modules includes a first module and a second module, the first module is configured to: transmit a request to the network, wherein the request indicates a first power value; receive a response based on the request, wherein the response indicates a second power value smaller than the first power value; display an abnormality indication that indicates a power error in the first module, wherein the abnormality indication is displayed based on the response; and notify the power error to the second module, and the second module is configured to control an indicator to display the abnormality indication that indicates the power error in the first module, wherein the indicator is controlled to display the abnormality indication based on the notification of the power error. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The module device according to claim 1, wherein the second module includes the indicator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The module device according to claim 1, further comprising a subordinate module connected to the second module to function, wherein the subordinate module includes the indicator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The module device according to claim 2, wherein the indicator is a lighting component, and a mode of the display of the abnormality indication by the indicator is different from a normal mode of the lighting component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The module device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of modules includes: a mechanically coupled module group including the second module, and at least one mechanically uncoupled module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The module device according to claim 1, wherein the first module is mechanically coupled to the second module, the first module is further configured to notify relative positional information of the first module to the second module, and the relative positional information of the first module is positional information of the first module relative to the second module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The module device according to claim 6, wherein the second module is further configured to control the indicator to display the abnormality indication with the relative positional information of the first module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The module device according to claim 1, further comprising a subordinate module connected to one of the plurality of modules, wherein the first module is mechanically coupled to the second module, and the subordinate module is mechanically coupled to the plurality of modules. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The module device according to claim 8, wherein the second module includes a plurality of indicators, and the plurality of indicators includes the indicator. ### Claim 10 A module device, comprising: a plurality of modules, wherein each module of the plurality of modules includes a central processing unit (CPU), the CPU includes a network interface configured to receive power from a network by power over ethernet (PoE), the plurality of modules includes a first module and a second module, the second module is configured to: receive a power error message from the first module via the network, wherein the power error message indicates a power error in the first module; and control an indicator to display an abnormality indication that indicates the power error in the first module, wherein the indicator is controlled to display the abnormality indication based on the received power error message. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The module device according to claim 10, wherein the second module includes the indicator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The module device according to claim 10, further comprising[[ ]] a subordinate module connected to the second module, wherein the subordinate module includes the indicator. ### Claim 13 A broadcast system, comprising: a control panel that includes a plurality of modules; wherein each module of the plurality of modules includes a central processing unit (CPU), the CPU includes a network interface configured to receive power from a network by power over ethernet (PoE), the plurality of modules includes a first module and a second module, the first module is configured to: transmit a request to the network, wherein the request indicates a first power value; receive a response based on the request, wherein the response indicates a second power value smaller than the first power value; display an abnormality indication that indicates a power error in the first module, wherein the abnormality indication is displayed based on the response; and notify the power error to the second module, and the second module is configured to control an indicator to display the abnormality indication that indicates the power error in the first module, wherein the indicator is controlled to display the abnormality indication based on the notification of the power error.