System and method for managing fault in a power system

A method for programming a power control system including a plurality of point-of-load regulators, comprising:

• displaying at least one screen depicting a matrix including a first axis identifying each of said plurality of point-of-load regulators and a second axis identifying a plurality of virtual power control groups, said matrix further including a plurality of user selectable icons defining intersections between each of said plurality of point-of-load regulators and each of said plurality of power control groups;
• receiving user input selecting ones of said user selectable icons;
• and
• assigning selected ones of said plurality of point-of-load regulators to ones of said plurality of power control groups in accordance with said user input;
• wherein, fault conditions detected by any one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators assigned to a particular one of said plurality of power control groups are selectively propagated to other ones of said plurality of point-of-load regulators assigned to said particular one of said plurality of power control groups so that a common response to said fault conditions is taken by each one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators assigned to said particular one of said plurality of power control groups.

A method for programming a power control system including a plurality of point-of-load regulators, comprising:

• displaying at least one screen depicting a plurality of potential fault conditions and selectable types of corrective actions to be taken responsive to said potential fault conditions;
• receiving user input to select ones of said selectable types of corrective actions;
• and
• programming at least one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators in accordance with said user input;
• wherein, said at least one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators performs said selected types of corrective actions in response to actual fault conditions in accordance with said programming step.

A method for programming a power control system, comprising:

• displaying at least one screen depicting a configuration of communication paths between a plurality of virtual power control groups, each one of said plurality of virtual power control groups having a respective plurality of point-of-load regulators assigned thereto;
• receiving user input to enable selected ones of said communication paths defining propagation of fault notifications from ones of said plurality of virtual power control groups to others of said plurality of virtual power control groups;
• and
• programming said plurality of point-of-load regulators of each of said plurality of virtual power control groups in accordance with said user input;
• wherein, said plurality of point-of-load regulators of each of said plurality of virtual power control groups propagate said fault notifications in accordance with said programming step.