Network-connecting power manager for remote appliances

• US 7,099,934 B1
• Filed: 12/08/2000
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Cleveland, Andrew J., Auclair, Brian P., Ewing, Carrel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US09/732,557
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 307/34, 307/35, 307/36, 307/37, 307/38, 307/32, 307/43, 307/149, 307/150, 361/601, 361/622, 713/340, 439/652, 337/186, 337/11, 337/18, 337/31
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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 network comprises a power manager with a network agent in communication over a network with an network manager. The power manager is connected to control several intelligent power modules each able to independently control the power on/off status of several network appliances. Power-on and load sensors within each intelligent power module are able to report the power status of each network appliance to the network manager with variables in response to commands. Each intelligent power module is equipped with an output that is connected to cause an interrupt signal to the network appliance being controlled. The network manager is able to test which network appliance is actually responding before any cycling of the power to the corresponding appliance is tried.

Claims

1. A power management method comprising:

providing power to a power input of a local power distribution apparatus comprising (i) a vertical housing vertically mounted to a vertical electrical equipment rack, (ii) a power input penetrating the vertical housing, and (iii) a plurality of power outlets penetrating the vertical housing and connected to an associated plurality of electrical appliances mounted in the vertical electrical equipment rack or another vertical electrical equipment rack;

with a sensor system mounted in the local power distribution apparatus, (A) sensing whether at least one power outlet mounted in the local power distribution apparatus and in communication with the sensor is configured either (i) in the “

off”

state or (ii) in the “

on”

state, and also (B) sensing whether current is flowing through said at least one power outlet;

generating at least one power status signal with the local power distribution apparatus based on said sensing by the sensor system;

communicating the power status signal from the sensor system to a power manager system associated with the local power distribution apparatus;

based on the power status signal received by the power manager system from the sensor system, transmitting power outlet status information in TCP/IP format from the local power distribution apparatus over a TCP/IP compatible network to a remote network management system;

transmitting an outlet on/off state signal in TCP/IP format from the remote network management system through the TCP/IP compatible network to the local power distribution apparatus; and

based an a selected power outlet in the local power distribution apparatus indicated by the outlet on/off state signal, transmitting an off-on cycle signal from the power manager system and, in response to said transmitting, cycling off and on the selected power outlet in the local power distribution apparatus.

2. The power management method of claim 1 wherein the sensing system in the local power distribution apparatus also senses ambient temperature measurements and the power manager system also transmits temperature measurement information through said TCP/IP compatible network to said remote network management system.

3. The power management method of claim 1 wherein the local power distribution apparatus includes a modem communications port, a serial communications port, and an Ethernet communications port, with each of said ports supporting said transmitting through said TCP/IP compatible network.

4. The power management method of claim 2 wherein the local power distribution apparatus includes a modem communications port, a serial communications port, and an Ethernet communications port, with each of said ports supporting said transmitting through said TCP/IP compatible network.

5. The power management method of claim 1 wherein the local power manager system includes a web interface application and the power management method further comprises accessing the web interface application through said TCP/IP compatible network.

6. The power management method of claim 2 wherein the local power manager system includes a web interface application and the power management method further comprises accessing the web interface application through said TCP/IP compatible network.

7. The power management method of claim 4 wherein the local power manager system includes a web interface power management application and the power management method further comprises accessing the web interface power management application through said TCPHP compatible network.