Radiofrequency identification management of server components

• US 10,331,919 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Huang, Chih-Chia, Su, Chin-Lung, Chan, Hao-Yu, Hsiao, Ming-Chih
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D
• Application Number:
  US15/788,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20190122015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 235451, 235383, 235385
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10475 arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for managing components within a server using radiofrequency communications. The methods and apparatuses disclosed employ a server having a chassis with a plurality of slots. Each slot of the plurality of slots is configured to connect a removable electronic component to the chassis. The server also includes a controller configured to manage the removable electronic components connected to the chassis. The server also includes at least one RFID reader communicatively connected to the controller. The at least one RFID reader is configured to interrogate one or more RFID tags of the removable electronic components connected to the chassis and provide information from the one or more RFID tags to the controller.

Claims

1. A server comprising:

a chassis comprising a plurality of slots, each slot of the plurality of slots being configured to connect a removable electronic component to the chassis;

a controller configured to manage utilization of the removable electronic components within the server, and serve as an interface between the removable electronic components and an operating system of the server; and

at least one RFID reader and an optical scanner communicatively connected to the controller, the at least one RFID reader being configured to interrogate one or more RFID tags of the removable electronic components connected to the chassis, and provide information from the one or more RFID tags to the controller, and the optical scanner configured to read one or more bar codes of the removable electronic components.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein the at least one RFID reader comprises a plurality of RFID readers, and each RFID reader of the plurality of RFID readers is associated with a separate slot of the plurality of slots.

3. The server of claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of antennas communicatively connected to the plurality of RFID readers,

wherein each antenna of the plurality of antennas is connected to a separate RFID reader of the plurality of RFID readers.

4. The server of claim 3, wherein each antenna of the plurality of antennas is positioned at a separate slot of the plurality of slots to be in alignment with the RFID tag of the electronic component connected to the separate slot.

5. The server of claim 1, wherein the chassis includes an aperture configured to accept insertion of an asset identification component, the at least one RFID reader being configured to interrogate an RFID tag of the asset identification component with the asset identification component inserted into the aperture.

6. The server of claim 5, further comprising:

at least one antenna communicatively connected to the at least one RFID reader,

wherein the at least one antenna is positioned to be in alignment with the RFID tag of the asset identification component with the asset identification component inserted into the aperture.

7. The server of claim 1, wherein the at least one RFID reader is at least one RFID transceiver configured to provide information from the controller to the one or more RFID tags.

8. A server comprising:

a chassis comprising a plurality of slots;

a plurality of removable electronic components, each removable electronic component of the plurality of removable electronic components being inserted into a separate slot of the plurality of slots to connect the removable electronic component to the chassis and including an RFID tag;

a controller configured to manage utilization of the removable electronic components within the server and serve as an interface between the removable electronic components and an operating system of the server; and

a plurality of RFID readers and an optical scanner communicatively connected to the controller, each RFID reader of the plurality of RFID readers being configured to interrogate a separate RFID tag of a separate removable electronic component of the plurality of electronic components and provide retrieved information from the separate RFID tag to the controller, and the optical scanner configured to read one or more bar codes of the removable electronic components.

9. The server of claim 8, wherein the plurality of RFID readers is a plurality of RFID transceivers configured to provide information from the controller to the plurality of RFID tags of the plurality of removable electronic components.

10. The server of claim 9, further comprising:

an aperture within the chassis configured to accept an asset identification component,

wherein at least one RFID transceiver of the plurality of RFID transceiver is configured to interrogate an RFID tag of the asset identification component and provide information from the RFID tag of the asset identification component to the controller.

11. The server of claim 10, wherein the at least one RFID transceiver is configured to write information from the controller in the RFID tag of the asset identification component.

12. A method for managing one or more removable electronic components within a server, the method comprising:

interrogating, with an RFID reader, an RFID tag of a removable electronic component of the one or more removable electronic components connected to a chassis of the server;

receiving, in response to the first interrogating, first information from the electronic component and providing, by the RFID reader, the first information to a controller of the server;

interrogating, with an optical scanner, one or more bar codes of the removable electronic component of the one or more removable electronic components connected to the chassis of the server;

receiving, in response to the second interrogating, second information from the electronic component and providing, by the optical scanner, the second information to the controller of the server; and

managing, by the controller, the removable electronic component, the server, or a combination thereof based on the first information and the second information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the RFID reader is an RFID transceiver, and the managing of the removable electronic component includes causing an update to the first information on the RFID tag.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the managing comprises the controller causes a logging of the first information in an electronic database external, internal, or a combination thereof to the server.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the managing comprises providing, by the server, the first information for display on a graphical user interface of an electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the managing comprises decoding the first information for display on the graphical user interface, and the electronic device is a mobile electronic device.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the interrogating is continuous, periodic, on-demand, in response to insertion of the removable electronic component, or a combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the first information includes one or more operating parameters of the removable electronic component.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first information also includes a serial number, a model number, a part revision, an Internet Protocol address, a media access control address, a model name, a first run date, a last run date, a runtime, a manufacture date, a manufacturer, or a combination thereof of the removable electronic component.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the RFID reader is an RFID transceiver, the method further comprising:

interrogating, with the RFID transceiver, an RFID tag of an asset identification component inserted into the server; and

causing an update of the RFID tag of the asset identification component based on the first information by providing the first information to the asset identification component.