Multiple host power control system and method

• US 6,728,601 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Garcia, Enrique, Hanson, Yvonne
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): CABRERA, ZOILA E
• Application Number:
  US09/908,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20030018921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/293, 700/292, 700/295, 713/340, 709/201, 307/18, 307/43, 307/85
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off

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.

Claims

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.

2. A power control system comprising:

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.

3. A power control system comprising:

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.

4. A method for controlling power in a power control system, said method comprising:

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.

5. A method for controlling power in a power control system, said method comprising:

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.

6. A method for controlling power in a power control system, as claimed in claim 5, said method further comprising:

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.

7. A method for controlling power in a power control system, said method comprising:

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.

8. A method for controlling power in a power control system, as claimed in claim 7, said method further comprising:

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.

9. A method for controlling power in a power control system comprising at least two hosts and a power supply, said method comprising:

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.