Method and apparatus for remote power management and monitoring

• US 7,550,870 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyber Switching Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Cyber Switching Incorporated
• Inventors: Silorio, Ron L., Reynolds, Charles H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paladini, Albert W
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, HAL IRA
• Application Number:
  US10/625,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: 700/22, 700/286, 700/297, 307/31, 307/32
• US Class Current: 307/32
• 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: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip

Abstract

Methods and/or systems for power monitoring and/or power cycling management provide a variety of different remote interfacing and provide individual current monitoring for each output in a power supply strip. In various implementations, the invention can be incorporated into a power supply strip for a network device rack thereby providing compact controllable and monitorable power for multiple network devices.

Claims

1. A smart power manager monitor comprising:

a logic controller able to execute logic instructions and operatively connected to;

one or more interface connections;

a memory storing logic instructions;

said controller separately controlling on and off states for two or more relays each individually connecting a power source to a power output;

said controller receiving current draw data from two or more current sensors each individually sensing current drawn through one of said two or more relays said two or more current sensors thereby providing separate current readings for separate power outputs to said logic controller;

said logic controller thereby able to report current draw data for two or more of said power outputs using said one or more interface connections; and

an inlet for receiving power from an external source.

2. The device of claim 1 further wherein:

said at least one interface connection is selected from;

a network connection;

a telephone connection;

or

a direct serial connection.

3. The device of claim 1 further wherein:

said logic circuitry provides at least one external interface selected from;

an web-based interface;

a telephone interface;

a telnet interface;

an email interface;

a serial interface;

or

an SNMP interface.

4. The device of claim 1 further wherein:

said logic circuitry comprises;

a microcontroller.

5. The device of claim 4 further wherein:

said logic circuitry further comprises;

one or more drivers and/or processors for operating said interfaces and/or said outputs.

6. A method of managing power within an information appliance comprising:

receiving power from an external source at a first connector;

connecting power to two or more controllable relays, said controllable relays providing two or more managed power domains for information appliance components;

sensing current using two or more current sensors, each individually sensing current drawn through said two or more controllable relays, said two or more current sensors thereby providing separate current readings for said separate power domains; and

providing at least one physical communication interface with power connections outside of said managed power domains; and

executing logic instructions on power management components powered outside of said managed power domains for controlling said relays and communicating on said communication interface; and

executing logic instructions on said power management components to receive individual current monitoring results and to provide said results to users over said communication interface.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

providing at least one user interface, said interface executed on logic circuitry provided by said power management components.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

providing at least one interface allowing a user to independently schedule switching power on and off for each of said power domains;

receiving user indications to configure and/or change operating states of said power domains; and

using power management logic operatively connected to said domains to change states and/or configurations of said domains in accordance with said user indications.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

accepting indications registering one or more non-administrator users; and

granting non-administrator users access individually to one or more of said domains.

10. The method of claim 6 further wherein:

said power is received on a main processing board of said appliance and said controllable relays reside on said main board.

11. The method of claim 6 further wherein:

said power is received on a component board of said appliance and said controllable relays reside on said component board, said component board having at least one connection to a main board of said system.

12. The method of claim 6 further wherein:

said power is received on a component board of said system, said component board providing a plurality of power domains to one or more other boards in said appliance.