Multiple host power control system and method
First Claim
1. A power control system comprising:
- at least two hosts, each said host comprising a host communications interface; and
a power supply system, said power supply system comprising a power supply, control software, and a plurality of power supply system communications interfaces;
wherein each said power supply system communications interface corresponds to, and is in communication with, one said host communications interface on each said host; and
wherein said control software is adapted to turn on said power supply when at least one said power supply system communications interface receives a “
turn on”
signal from the corresponding host communications interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is provided for multiple hosts to control one or more power systems redundantly, by constructing a power supply system having a plurality of physically separate and redundant communication interfaces, one coupled to each host, wherein a software algorithm determines whether the power supply system should be on or off at a given point in time, based on signals received from the hosts. In an exemplary embodiment, a power control system consistent with the invention comprises at least two hosts, each host comprising a host communications interface; and a power supply system comprising a power supply, control software, and a plurality of power supply system communications interfaces. Each power supply system communications interface corresponds to, and is in communication with, one host communications interface on each host; and the control software is adapted to turn on the power supply when at least one power supply system communications interface receives a “turn on” signal from the corresponding host communications interface. In method form, a method for controlling power in a power control system having at least two hosts and a power supply system comprising a power supply comprises: determining whether at least one host requires the power supply system to be on; and turning on the power supply based on that determination.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A power control system comprising:
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at least two hosts, each said host comprising a host communications interface; and
a power supply system, said power supply system comprising a power supply, control software, and a plurality of power supply system communications interfaces;
wherein each said power supply system communications interface corresponds to, and is in communication with, one said host communications interface on each said host; and
wherein said control software is adapted to turn on said power supply when at least one said power supply system communications interface receives a “
turn on”
signal from the corresponding host communications interface.
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2. A power control system comprising:
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at least two hosts;
a power supply system comprising a power supply, control software, and a separate power supply system communications interface coupled to each said host;
wherein said control software is adapted to turn on said power supply when at least one said power supply system communications interface receives a “
turn on”
signal from the corresponding host.
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3. A power control system comprising:
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at least two hosts, each said host comprising a host communications interface; and
at least one power supply system, each said power supply system comprising a power supply, control software, and a plurality of power supply system communications interfaces;
wherein each said power supply system communications interface of each said power supply system corresponds to, and is in communication with, one said host communications interface on each said host; and
wherein said control software is adapted to turn on its respective power supply when at least one said power supply system communications interface of said power supply system receives a “
turn on”
signal from the corresponding host communications interface.
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4. A method for controlling power in a power control system, said method comprising:
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coupling at least two hosts to a power supply system comprising a power supply, each said host repeatedly transmitting either a “
turn on”
command or a “
turn off”
command;
coupling said power supply to each said host, via a separate communications interface for each said host; and
turning on said power supply if at least one said “
turn on”
signal is received from at least one said host.
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5. A method for controlling power in a power control system, said method comprising:
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coupling at least two hosts to a power supply system comprising a power supply, each said host repeatedly transmitting either a “
turn on”
command or a “
turn off”
command;
coupling said power supply to each said host, via a separate communications interface for each said host; and
turning off said power supply if no said “
turn on”
signal is received from any said host.- View Dependent Claims (6)
when neither a “
turn off”
nor a “
turn on”
signal is received from a given host, transmitting a signal to at least one of the remaining said hosts, to indicate a failure condition at said given host.
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7. A method for controlling power in a power control system, said method comprising:
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coupling at least two hosts to a power supply system comprising a power supply, each said host repeatedly transmitting a “
heartbeat”
signal when said host is functioning correctly;
coupling said power supply to each said host, via a separate communications interface for each said host; and
controlling power to said power supply by;
turning on said power supply if said “
heartbeat”
signal is received from more than one said host and any of said more than one said host is transmitting a “
turn on”
signal;
turning on said power supply if said “
heartbeat”
signal is received from only one said host and said host is transmitting a “
turn on”
signal; and
turning off said power supply if every host transmitting said “
heartbeat”
signal is also transmitting a “
turn off”
signal.- View Dependent Claims (8)
when no “
heartbeat”
signal is received from a given host, transmitting a signal to at least one of the remaining said hosts, to indicate a failure condition at said given host.
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9. A method for controlling power in a power control system comprising at least two hosts and a power supply, said method comprising:
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turning on said power supply if a “
turn on”
signal is received from more than one said host; and
turning off said power supply if either a “
turn off”
signal, or no signal, is received from every host.
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Specification