Self-aware software defined digital power supply

A power supply method of connecting a DC consumer to an AC supply in a power supply system comprising the steps of:

• interfacing to a device driver that communicates with the power supply system;
• using an AC-DC converter having an input to which alternating current from the AC supply is applied and an output at which DC current is developed;
• using a UPS having an input to which direct current from the AC-DC converter is applied and an output at which DC current is developed;
• applying DC current developed at the output of the AC-DC converter and DC current developed at the output of the UPS to the DC consumer selectively in parallel with each other or exclusively to each other;
• switching the AC-DC converter on and off and applying the DC current developed at the output of the UPS to the DC consumer;
• attempting to authenticate the device driver;
• and
• turning off the DC current if the device driver is not authenticated;
• wherein:
• using the AC-DC converter and using the UPS is controlled based on a communication generated by the DC consumer;
• and
• the communication generated by the DC consumer is based upon information provided to the DC consumer about operation of the UPS or the AC-DC converter.