US 8,527,619 B2Granted

Remote power control system with tickle capability

AssigneeServer Technology, Inc.

InventorsCarrel W. Ewing, Andrew J. Cleveland

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An SNMP network comprises a power manager with an SNMP agent in TCP/IP communication over a network with an SNMP network manager. The power manager is connected to control several intelligent power modules each able to independently control the power on/off status of several network appliances. Power-on and load sensors within each intelligent power module are able to report the power status of each network appliance to the SNMP network manager with MIB variables in response to GET commands. Each intelligent power module is equipped with an output that is connected to cause an interrupt signal to the network appliance being controlled. The SNMP network manager is able to test which network appliance is actually responding before any cycling of the power to the corresponding appliance is tried.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A remotely manageable power distribution unit comprising in combination:

A. a power strip housing;
B. a power input disposed in the power strip housing;
C. a first plurality of power outputs disposed in the power strip housing, each of the first plurality of power outputs being connectable to one of more electrical loads external to the power strip housing and to the power input;
D. a power control section disposed with the power strip housing and being connectable in network communication through TCP/IP with a remote power control system and in power controlling communication with one of more of the power outputs among the first plurality of power outputs;
E. an intelligent power module within the power control section, and being connectable in power communication with one of a plurality of external electrical appliances mounted in an electrical equipment rack;
and
F. a tickle issuance circuit disposed with the power strip housing and being connectable in communication with the remote power control system and in communication with at least one of the external electrical appliances, the tickle issuance circuit operative to:
i) issue an appliance identity testing signal to any of the plurality of external electrical appliances,
ii) issue a power-related command to the intelligent power module, and
iii) send a message identifying a respective one or more of the external electrical appliances that has been tickled to a network monitor and a system administrator of the remote power control system.

7 more elements

Amended) A method of remotely managing power distribution unit, the method comprising in combination:

A. providing a power strip housing;
B. providing a power input disposed in the power strip housing;
C. providing a first plurality of power outputs disposed in the power strip housing, each of the first plurality of power outputs being connectable to one of more electrical loads external to the power strip housing and to the power input;
D. providing a power control section disposed with the power strip housing in network communication through TCP/IP with a remote power control system and in power controlling communication with one of more of the power outputs among the first plurality of power outputs;
E. providing an intelligent power module within the power control section, and in power communication with one of a plurality of external electrical appliances mounted in an electrical equipment rack;
and
F. providing a tickle issuance circuit disposed with the power strip housing in communication with the remote power control system and in communication with at least one of the external electrical appliances;
and
with the tickle issuance circuit:
i) issuing an appliance identity testing signal to any of the plurality of external electrical appliances,
ii) issuing a power-related command to the intelligent power module, and
iii) sending a message identifying a respective one or more of the external electrical appliances that has been tickled to a network monitor and a system administrator of the remote power control system.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/963,538Filed 8 Dec 2010 · continuation
Priority: 16 Aug 1999
Published: US 2011/0197080 A111 Aug 2011
Granted: 3 Sep 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

G05F 1/66
Automatic systems in which deviations of an electric quantity from one or more predetermined values are detected at the output of the system and…:…
G05B 15/02
Systems controlled by a computer: electric
G06F 1/26
Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00: power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof
G06F 1/3209
Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality: monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or…

Family

Application09/375,471Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Aug 1999
Application09/732,557Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Dec 2000
US 6,711,613 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 23 Mar 2004
Application11/370,489Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Mar 2006
US 7,099,934 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Aug 2006
Application11/738,417Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Apr 2007
US 2011/0197080 A1Pre-grant publication · published 11 Aug 2011
Application09/732,557Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2007/0016664 A1Published application
US 2007/0245012 A1Published application
US 8,560,652 B2Related patent
US 8,527,619 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.