System and method for monitoring computer environment and operation

• US 5,566,339 A
• Filed: 10/23/1992
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avocent Huntsville Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Fox Network Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Perholtz, Ronald J., Elmquest, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, George B.
• Application Number:
  US07/966,081
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 395/750, 395/700, 364/200, 364/900, 364/705.05, 379/6, 379/5, 379/8, 379/59, 379/93, 379/143, 379/413, 379/38, 371/66
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/10 Adding special bits or symbols to the coded information, e.g. parity check, casting out 9's or 11's
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3058 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3068 where the reporting involves data format conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3086 where the reporting involves the use of self describing data formats, i.e. metadata, markup languages, human readable formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/32 with visual or acoustical indication of the functioning of the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/285 Interfacing with colour displays, e.g. TV receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/18 Timing circuits for raster scan displays specially adapted for television H04N ; synchronisation between the display unit and other display units, videodisc player G09G5/12
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/222 Control of the character-code memory
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/30 Control of display attribute
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/045 : using recorded signals, e.g. speech
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An advanced electronic alert system for monitoring computer network(s), environment, security and the status of tasks being processed by a computer. The system stores voice recorded and text alert messages on computer readable magnetic media; automatically dials designated persons when alert situation(s) are detected; and then replays the applicable recorded voice alert message(s) once an alert call has been completed. Alternatively, alert messages may be transmitted by the system using phone dialing tones, in those cases where an alert call is placed to a digital device, such as a pager. The system issues automatic alert warnings to one or more designated persons when main electrical power fails or is restored; the temperature becomes too hot or too cold; a loud sound is detected, such as that produced by a smoke detector, fire alarm, etc.; a central network computer/file server fails; an intruder and/or water has been detected; main and/or backup power fails; a computer software program fails and/or is successfully completed; or a microprocessor based computer used as part of the system fails.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus for monitoring an operation of a power supply system connected to a computer, comprising:

first connecting means for connecting an external AC power source to the monitoring apparatus;

power output means connected to said first connecting means for supplying said AC power from the monitoring apparatus to said computer;

detecting means connected to said first connecting means for detecting the presence or absence of said AC power and generating an indicating signal in response;

communication means connected to said detecting means for selectively connecting the monitoring apparatus to a telephone network and placing a telephone call to a person in a location away from the system; and

control means connected to said detecting means and said communication means for receiving said indicating signal and activating said communication means to place said telephone call when said detecting means detects the presence or absence of said AC power.

2. The monitoring apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

second connecting means for selectively connecting a source of backup AC power to said power output means; and

switching means connected to said first and second connecting means, said detecting means, and said power output means for switching the supply of said power output means from said external AC power source to said backup AC power source in response to said indicating signal from the detecting means when said signal indicates that said external AC power is absent.

3. The monitoring apparatus of claim 2 further comprising second detecting means connected to said second connecting means and said control means for detecting the presence or absence of said backup AC power and generating a second indicating signal in response;

wherein said control means further receives said second indicating signal and activate said communication means to place said telephone call when said detecting means detects the presence or absence of said backup AC power.

4. The monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communication means includes means for transmitting a user-recorded voice message.

5. The monitoring apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a mass storage device associated with said computer;

data interface means connected to said control means and said computer for connecting the monitoring apparatus to said computer to transfer data between the monitoring apparatus and said mass storage device associated with said computer in response to signals received from said control means; and

data conversion means connected to said control means and said communication means for receiving digital data defining a user-recorded voice message and generating an output to said communication means compatible with said telephone network, to generate said voice message on said telephone network;

wherein said digital data defining said user recorded voice message is stored on said mass storage device within the computer, and said control means retrieves said digital data and transmits said data to the data conversion means whereby said voice message is generated and transmitted.

6. The monitoring apparatus of claim 1 further comprising recording means connected to the communication means and the control means for recording a response from the person receiving the telephone call.

7. The monitoring apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

a mass storage device associated with said computer;

data interface means connected to said control means and said computer for connecting the monitoring apparatus to said computer to permit transfer of data between the monitoring apparatus and said mass storage device associated with said computer in response to signals received from said control means;

data conversion means connected to said control means and said communication means for receiving a voice message from said communication means, generating a digital output representative of said voice message, and transmitting said digital output to said control means;

wherein said data interface means transfers said digital output representing said voice message to said computer where said digital data is stored in said mass storage device.

8. A method of monitoring an operation of an external AC power supply system connected to a computer, comprising the steps of:

monitoring power output of said power supply to the computer;

detecting a change in the presence or absence of said power output;

generating an indicating signal when said change in the presence or absence of said power output is detected; and

transmitting said indicating signal to an automatic telephone communications means for selectively establishing a connection between said automatic telephone communications means and a telephone network, and placing a telephone call to a person in a location away from the computer when said change in the presence or absence of said power outant is detected.

9. The method of claim 8 comprising the further steps of:

providing a selectively operable source of backup AC power; and

providing switching means for switching the power supply of the computer from said external AC power supply to said backup AC source in response to said generated indicating signal when said signal indicates that said external AC power is absent.

10. The method of claim 8 comprising the further steps of:

selectively obtaining digital data from a mass storage device associated with said computer, said digital data representing a user-recorded voice message;

converting the digital data to a signal format compatible with said telephone network to form said voice message; and

transmitting said voice message signal format in said telephone call.

11. The method of claim 8 comprising the further steps of:

receiving a voice response signal from the recipient of said telephone call;

converting the voice response signal into a digital data format compatible with a mass storage device associated with said computer and representing said voice response signal; and

storing said digital data in said mass storage device for later retrieval and review.