Power Distribution Unit for Transmitting Data Over a Powerline
AssigneeCenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
InventorRonald A. Lewis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing a power distribution unit, and, more particularly, for implementing a power distribution unit to transmit data over a powerline. In various embodiments, a power distribution unit, might electrically and communicatively couple one or more external devices to a power source. The power distribution unit might include at least one power input, a plurality of power outputs, a plurality of communications ports, and at least one adapter. The at least one adapter might be configured to transmit data received from at least one communications port to the at least one power input and transmit data received from the at least one power input to at least one Ethernet port.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- at least one power input configured to receive power from at least one external power source;
- a plurality of power outputs, each power output configured to receive power from the at least one external power source and configured to deliver power to an external device coupled to each power output;
- a plurality of communications ports, each communications port configured to deliver data to and receive data from the external device, via the at least one power input;
- and
- at least one adapter, each adapter configured to transmit data received from at least one communications port from among the plurality of communications ports to the at least one power input and transmit data received from the at least one power input to at least one communications port from among the plurality of communications ports.
A system comprising:
- one or more server racks;
- one or more computing devices coupled to each of the one or more server racks;
- one or more power distribution units coupled to the one or more server racks, wherein at least one of the one or more power distribution units comprises:
- at least one power input configured to receive power from at least one external power source;
- a plurality of power outputs, each power output configured to receive power from the at least one external power source and configured to deliver power to a computing device coupled to each power output;
- a plurality of communications ports, each communications port configured to deliver data to and receive data from the computing device via the at least one power input;
- and
- at least one adapter, each adapter configured to transmit data received from at least one communications port from among the plurality of communications ports to the at least one power input and transmit data received from the at least one power input to at least one communications port from among the plurality of communications ports;
- wherein one or more server racks are coupled to a network, defined at least in part by a premises wiring to which the external power source is coupled, through the one or more power distribution units.
A method, comprising:
- coupling a power distribution unit of a server rack to an external power source via premises wiring;
- mounting one or more external devices to the server rack;
- coupling the one or more external devices to one or more corresponding power outlets of the power distribution unit;
- providing power, with the power distribution unit, to the one or more external devices coupled to the one or more corresponding power outlets on the power distribution unit;
- coupling the one or more external devices to one or more corresponding communications ports of the power distribution unit;
- providing data, received over the premises wiring, to a respective communications port of the one or more communications ports;
- and
- transmitting, with the power distribution unit, data received from the external device over the premises wiring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.