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US 12,743,596 B2Granted
Computing device rack location identification system
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsErik P. Smith, Padmanabhan Narayanan, Neal Beard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computing device rack location identification system includes a rack defining computing device housings and including respective rack location identifier(s) adjacent each of the computing device housings. A computing device may be positioned in any of the computing device housings, and a camera device in the computing device may capture an image of one of the respective rack location identifier(s) located adjacent that computing device housing. A computing device rack location reporting subsystem in the computing device receives the image captured by the camera device, and transmits image information associated with the image via a network to a computing device rack location tracking system.
Claims20
A computing device rack location identification system, comprising:
- a rack system that defines a plurality of computing device housings and that includes at least one respective rack location identifier located adjacent each of the plurality of computing device housings;
- a respective rack mounting subsystem mounted to the rack system adjacent each of the plurality of computing device housings, wherein each respective rack mounting subsystem adjacent a computing device housing is configured to provide an aperture through which the at least one respective rack location identifier located adjacent that computing device housing is visible when that respective rack mounting subsystem is provided in a retracted orientation;
- and
- a computing device that is configured to be mounted to any of the respective rack mounting subsystems to allow the computing device to be positioned in the computing device housing adjacent that respective rack mounting subsystem, wherein the computing device includes:
- a chassis;
- a camera device that is included in the chassis and configured, when the computing device is mounted to any of the respective rack mounting subsystems and positioned in the computing device housings adjacent that respective rack mounting subsystem via that respective rack mounting subsystem being provided in the retracted orientation, to capture an image of the at least one respective rack location identifier that is located adjacent that computing device housing through the aperture provided by that respective rack mounting subsystem in the retracted orientation;
- and
- a computing device rack location reporting subsystem that is included in the chassis, that is coupled to the camera device, and that is configured to:
- receive, from the camera device when the computing device is mounted to a first rack mounting subsystem and positioned in the rack system in a first computing device housing included in the plurality of computing device housings via the first rack mounting subsystem being provided in the retracted orientation, a first image captured by the camera device of a first rack location identifier that is located adjacent the first computing device housing through the aperture provided by the first rack mounting subsystem in the retracted orientation;
- and
- transmit first image information associated with the first image via a network to a computing device rack location tracking system.
8 more elements
A rack system, comprising:
- a rack chassis defining a plurality of plurality of computing device housings;
- at least one respective rack location identifier located adjacent each of the plurality of computing device housings;
- a respective rack mounting subsystem mounted to the rack system adjacent each of the plurality of computing device housings, wherein each respective rack mounting subsystem adjacent a computing device housing is configured to:
- couple to and support a computing device when that respective rack mounting subsystem is provided in an extended orientation;
- move from the extended orientation to a retracted orientation to position the computing device coupled to and supported by that respective rack mounting subsystem in that computing device housing;
- and
- provide, in response to moving from the extended orientation to the retracted orientation, an aperture through which an image may be captured of the at least one respective rack location identifier located adjacent that computing device housing by a camera in the computing device coupled to and supported by that respective rack mounting subsystem.
4 more elements
A method for identifying a rack location of a computing device in a rack system, comprising:
- mounting, by a computing device, to a first rack mounting subsystem that is mounted to a rack system adjacent a first computing device housing included in a plurality of computing device housings defined by the rack system, wherein the rack system includes at least one respective rack location identifier located adjacent each of the plurality of computing device housings;
- positioning, by the computing device via movement of the first rack mounting subsystem into a retracted orientation, in the first computing device housing;
- providing, by the first rack mounting subsystem in response to movement of the first rack mounting subsystem into the retracted orientation, a first aperture through which the at least one respective rack location identifier located adjacent the first computing device housing is visible;
- capturing, by a camera device included in the computing device through the first aperture, a first image of the at least one respective rack location identifier located adjacent the first computing device housing;
- receiving, by a computing device rack location reporting subsystem included in the computing device, the first image captured by the camera device of the at least one respective rack location identifier located adjacent the first computing device housing;
- and
- transmitting, by the computing device rack location reporting subsystem, first image information associated with the first image via a network to a computing device rack location tracking subsystem.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.