System and method for managing power control and data communication among devices

• US 20060149976A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JS Holdings
• Original Assignee: JS Holdings
• Inventors: Vaserfirer, Aleksandr
• Granted Patent: US 7,190,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections

Abstract

A system for managing devices comprises a first device comprising a first interface and a second device comprising a second interface. The second interface is coupled to the first interface using a communication cable that comprises both power wires and data wires. The second device further comprises a power controller coupled to the second interface. The power controller detects at least one of a voltage or a current associated with the power wires of the communication cable. The power controller turns on a power supply associated with the second device in response to detecting at least one of the voltage or the current. The second device further comprises a data communication module coupled to the second interface. The data communication module communicates data between the first device and the second device using the data wires of the communication cable.

Claims

1. A system for managing devices, comprising:

a first device comprising a first interface; and

a second device comprising a second interface that is coupled to the first interface using a communication cable, wherein the communication cable comprises both power wires and data wires, the second device further comprising;

a power controller coupled to the second interface and operable to;

detect at least one of a voltage or a current associated with the power wires of the communication cable; and

turn on a power supply associated with the second device in response to detecting at least one of the voltage or the current;

and

a data communication module coupled to the second interface and operable to communicate data between the first device and the second device using the data wires of the communication cable.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power controller turns on the power supply upon detecting a voltage associated with the power wires that exceeds a voltage threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power controller is further operable to turn off the power supply upon detecting a voltage associated with the power wires that does not exceed a voltage threshold.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device is operable to turn off a power supply associated with the first device in response to the communicated data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the power controller is further operable to turn off the power supply in response to data associated with the data communication module.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the power controller detects at least one of a voltage or a current associated with the power wires of the communication cable in response to the first device being powered on.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication module comprises an alarm module operable to determine alarm conditions associated with the second device and to communicate alarm information associated with the alarm conditions to the first device using the data wires of the communication cable.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the alarm conditions comprise at least one of:

a temperature condition associated with the second device; and

a power supply condition associated with the second device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication module comprises a data storage device operable to store information associated with the second device and communicate the stored information to the first device using the data wires of the communication cable.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication module comprises a hub that is coupled to a plurality of communication devices and is operable to communicate information associated with at least one of the plurality of communication devices to the first device using the data wires of the communication cable.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication cable comprises one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable or an IEEE 1394 cable.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third device comprising a third interface that is coupled to the first interface using a second communication cable, wherein the second communication cable comprises both power wires and data wires, the third device further comprising;

a power controller coupled to the third interface and operable to;

detect at least one of a voltage or a current associated with the power wires of the second communication cable; and

turn on a power supply associated with the third device in response to detecting at least one of the voltage or the current;

and

a data communication module coupled to the third interface and operable to communicate data between the first device and the third device using the data wires of the second communication cable.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third device comprising a third interface that is coupled to the second device using a second communication cable, wherein the second communication cable comprises both power wires and data wires, the third device further comprising;

a power controller coupled to the third interface and operable to;

detect at least one of a voltage or a current associated with the power wires of the second communication cable; and

turn on a power supply associated with the third device in response to detecting at least one of the voltage or the current;

and

a data communication module coupled to the third interface and operable to communicate data between the first device and the third device using the data wires of the second communication cable.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device further comprises a power controller that is coupled to the first interface and that is operable to:

detect at least one of a voltage or a current associated with the power wires of the communication cable; and

turn on a power supply associated with the first device in response to detecting at least one of the voltage or the current.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device further comprises a data communication module coupled to the first interface and operable to communicate data between the first device and the second device using the data wires of the communication cable.

16. A device, comprising:

a interface that is coupled to an external device using a communication cable, wherein the communication cable comprises both power wires and data wires;

a power controller coupled to the interface and operable to;

detect at least one of a voltage or a current associated with the power wires of the communication cable; and

turn on a power supply associated with the device in response to detecting at least one of the voltage or the current;

and

a data communication module coupled to the interface and operable to communicate data to the external device using the data wires of the communication cable.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the power controller turns on the power supply upon detecting a voltage associated with the power wires that exceeds a voltage threshold.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the power controller is further operable to turn off the power supply upon detecting a voltage associated with the power wires that does not exceed a voltage threshold.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the power controller is further operable to turn off the power supply in response to data associated with the data communication module.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the power controller detects at least one of a voltage or a current associated with the power wires of the communication cable in response to the external device being powered on.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the data communication module comprises an alarm module operable to determine alarm conditions associated with the device and to communicate alarm information associated with the alarm conditions to the external device using the data wires of the communication cable.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the alarm conditions comprise at least one of:

a temperature condition associated with the device; and

a power supply condition associated with the device.

23. The device of claim 16, wherein the data communication module comprises a data storage device operable to store information associated with the device and communicate the stored information to the external device using the data wires of the communication cable.

24. The device of claim 16, wherein the data communication module comprises a hub that is coupled to a plurality of communication devices and is operable to communicate information associated with at least one of the plurality of communication devices to the external device using the data wires of the communication cable.

25. The device of claim 16, wherein the communication cable comprises one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable or an IEEE 1394 cable.

26. A method for managing devices, comprising:

detecting a voltage associated with power wires of a communication cable that couples a first device and a second device;

turning on a power supply of the second device in response to detecting the voltage; and

communicating data associated with the second device to the first device using data wires of the same communication cable.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the communication cable comprises one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable or an IEEE 1394 cable.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting the voltage associated with the power wires occurs in response to the first device being powered on.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising turning off a power supply associated with the first device in response to the communicated data.