Methods and systems for identifying a connection path between a power source and a load

A method implemented in a power distribution unit (PDU) for identifying a connection path between a power source and a load, comprising:

• receiving, at a power input of the PDU, on an input cable connecting the power input of the PDU to the power source, a reachability signal comprising an identity of the power source and an identity of a power output of the power source;
• in response to receiving the reachability signal, forwarding, from a power output of the PDU, on an output cable connecting the power output of the PDU to the load, a modified reachability signal comprising the identity of the power source, the identity of the power output of the power source, an identity of the PDU, an identity of the power output of the PDU;
• after the forwarding of the modified reachability signal, receiving, at the power output of the PDU, on the output cable, a return reachability signal comprising the identity of the power source, the identity of the power output of the power source, the identity of the PDU, the identity of the power output of the PDU and an identity of the load;
• and
• in response to receiving the return reachability signal, forwarding, from the power input of the PDU, on the input cable, a modified return reachability signal comprising the identity of the power source, the identity of the power output of the power source, the identity of the PDU, the identity of the power output of the PDU and the identity of the load.

A power source, comprising:

• a power output adapted to supply electric power to a plurality of loads via a cable connecting the power output to a power distribution unit (PDU), the power output being further adapted to send and receive signals to and from the PDU via the cable;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to a database and to the power output, the processor being adapted to:
• cause the power output to send to the PDU, on the cable, a reachability signal comprising an identity of the power source and an identity of the power output of the power source,
• receive, from the power output, a plurality of return reachability signals, each return reachability signal comprising the identity of the power source, the identity of the power output of the power source, an identity of the PDU, an identity of a respective power output of the PDU, and an identity of a respective load, and
• cause the database to store, for each return reachability signal, a respective reference between the identity of the power source, the identity of the power output of the power source, the identity of the PDU, the identity of the respective power output of the PDU, and the identity of the respective load.

A power distribution unit (PDU), comprising:

• a power input adapted to receive electric power from a power source via an input cable and to send and receive signals to and from the power source via the input cable;
• a power output adapted to supply electric power to a load via an output cable and to send and receive signals to and from the load via the output cable;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to the power input and to the power output, the processor being adapted to:
• receive, from the power input, a reachability signal comprising an identity of the power source and an identity of a power output of the power source,
• in response to receiving the reachability signal, cause the power output to forward a modified reachability signal to the load, the modified reachability signal comprising the identity of the power source, the identity of the power output of the power source, an identity of the PDU, an identity of the power output of the PDU,
• after the forwarding of the modified reachability signal, receive, from the power output, a return reachability signal comprising the identity of the power source, the identity of the power output of the power source, the identity of the PDU, the identity of the power output of the PDU and an identity of the load, and
• in response to receiving the return reachability signal, cause the power input to forward to the power source, on the input cable, a modified return reachability signal comprising the identity of the power source, the identity of the power output of the power source, the identity of the PDU, the identity of the power output of the PDU and the identity of the load.