Dynamic power cycling

• US 20070250623A1
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avocent Huntsville Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Avocent Huntsville Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Inventors: Hickey, John, McDonell, Martin, Power, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• 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: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

In a virtualized desktop system, a digital user station communicates with an interfacing module coupled to a target device via a network. The digital user station controls the power of the target device and the interfacing module by determining the power status of the interfacing module and sending a power control packet to the target device the interfacing module is coupled to.

Claims

1. A virtualized desktop system comprising:

a network;

a target device connected to said network via a network interface;

an interfacing module coupled to a peripheral port of said target device and to said network;

a digital user station, connected to said network, configured to be coupled to peripherals corresponding to peripheral ports of said target device thereby accessing and controlling the operation of the target device via said network using interfacing module coupled to the target device, wherein the digital user station controls a power operation of the interfacing module by controlling a power cycling operation of the target device via said network.

2. The virtualized desktop system of claim 1, wherein said interfacing module is coupled to a USB peripheral port of said target device and receives its power therefrom.

3. In a virtualized desktop system where a digital user station communicates with an interfacing module coupled to a target device via a network, a method for controlling a power operation of the interfacing module comprising the steps of:

at the digital user station;

determining power status of the interfacing module;

sending a power control packet to the target device the interfacing module is coupled to, where the power control packet changes power state of the target device which thereby changes the power state of the interfacing module.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said interfacing module is coupled to a USB peripheral port of said target device and receives its power therefrom.

5. In a virtualized desktop system where a digital user station communicates with an interfacing module coupled to a target device via a network, a method for controlling a power state of the target device comprising the steps of:

at the digital user station;

determining the power status of the interfacing module;

determining the power status of the target device based at least in part on the power status of the interfacing module;

sending a power control packet to the target device the interfacing module is coupled to, where the power control packet changes the power state of the target device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said interfacing module is coupled to a USB peripheral port of said target device and receives its power therefrom.