Power restoration management method and system

• US 8,121,743 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory Jensen, Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Haugh, Julianne Frances, Sand, Anne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US12/623,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20110125335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700291-293, 700/295, 323/318
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24

Abstract

A power restoration method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor of a computing apparatus, a signal indicating that a power outage has ended and that an input voltage signal used for powering power consumption devices at a first specified location power will be enabled. The computer processor disables input voltage signal connections to the power consumption devices and detects that the input voltage signal is enabled. The computer processor enables a first input voltage signal connection associated with a first power consumption device and monitors a frequency signal associated with the input voltage signal. The computer processor generates frequency level data comprising a frequency level of the frequency signal and compares the frequency level to a predetermined frequency level value. The computer processor generates results data comprising results of comparing the frequency level to a predetermined frequency level value.

Claims

1. A power restoration method comprising:

receiving, by a computer processor of a computing apparatus, a signal indicating that a power outage has ended and that an input voltage signal used for powering power consumption devices at a first specified location power will be enabled, said computing apparatus comprising a memory device, said memory device comprising a profile indicating an order for enabling each power consumption device of said power consumption devices;

disabling, by said computer processor, input voltage signal connections to each said power consumption device;

detecting, by said computer processor, that said input voltage signal at said first specified location is enabled;

first enabling, by said computer processor in response to said detecting and based on said profile, a first input voltage signal connection of said input voltage signal connections, wherein said first input voltage signal connection is associated with a first power consumption device of said power consumption devices, and wherein said first enabling said first input voltage signal connection enables said first power consumption device to receive said input voltage signal;

first monitoring, by said computer processor in response to said first enabling, a frequency signal associated with said input voltage signal at said first specified location;

generating, by said computer processor, first frequency level data associated with said first monitoring, wherein said first frequency level data comprises a first frequency level of said frequency signal;

first comparing, by said computer processor, said first frequency level to a predetermined frequency level value; and

generating, by said computer processor, first results data comprising first results of said first comparing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first results data indicates that said first frequency level exceeds said predetermined frequency level value, and wherein said method further comprises:

first disabling, by said computer processor in response to said first results data, said first input voltage signal connection, wherein said first disabling said first input voltage signal connection disables said first power consumption device from receiving said input voltage signal;

second enabling, by said computer processor, in response to said first disabling and based on said profile, a second input voltage signal connection of said input voltage signal connections, wherein said second input voltage signal connection is associated with a second power consumption device of said power consumption devices, and wherein said second enabling said second input voltage signal connection enables said second power consumption device to receive said input voltage signal;

second monitoring, by said computer processor in response to said second enabling, said frequency signal associated with said input voltage signal at said first specified location;

generating, by said computer processor, second frequency level data associated with said second monitoring, wherein said second frequency level data comprises a second frequency level of said frequency signal;

second comparing, by said computer processor, said second frequency level to said predetermined frequency level value; and

generating, by said computer processor, second results data comprising second results of said second comparing.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

before said second enabling, transmitting by said computer processor, said first results data to a power provider entity computer associated with a power provider entity supplying said input voltage signal; and

receiving, by said computer processor from said power provider entity computer, approval data indicating permission to perform said second enabling.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first results data indicates that said predetermined frequency level value exceeds said first frequency level, and wherein said method further comprises:

second enabling, by said computer processor, in response to said first results data and based on said profile, a second input voltage signal connection of said input voltage signal connections, wherein said second input voltage signal connection is associated with a second power consumption device of said power consumption devices, and wherein said second enabling said second input voltage signal connection enables said second power consumption device to receive said input voltage signal;

second monitoring, by said computer processor in response to said second enabling, said frequency signal associated with said input voltage signal at said first specified location;

generating, by said computer processor, second frequency level data associated with said second monitoring, wherein said second frequency level data comprises a second frequency level of said frequency signal;

second comparing, by said computer processor, said second frequency level to said predetermined frequency level value; and

generating, by said computer processor, second results data comprising second results of said second comparing.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

before said second enabling, transmitting by said computer processor, said first results data to a power provider entity computer associated with a power provider entity supplying said input voltage signal; and

receiving, by said computer processor from said power provider entity computer, approval data indicating permission to perform said second enabling.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first results data indicates that said predetermined frequency level value exceeds said first frequency level, and wherein said method further comprises:

second enabling, by said computer processor, in response to said first results data and based on said profile, a group of voltage signal connections of said input voltage signal connections, wherein said group of voltage signal connections are associated with a group of power consumption devices of said power consumption devices, and wherein said second enabling said group of voltage signal connections enables said group of power consumption devices to receive said input voltage signal;

second monitoring, by said computer processor in response to said second enabling, said frequency signal associated with said input voltage signal at said first specified location;

generating, by said computer processor, second frequency level data associated with said second monitoring, wherein said second frequency level data comprises a second frequency level of said frequency signal;

second comparing, by said computer processor, said second frequency level to said predetermined frequency level value; and

generating, by said computer processor, second results data comprising second results of said second comparing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first results data indicates that said first frequency level exceeds said predetermined frequency level value, and wherein said method further comprises:

enabling, by said computer processor in response to said first results data and based on said profile, a backup connection between a first rechargeable power source and a second power consumption device of said power consumption devices, wherein said enabling said backup connection enables said second power consumption device to receive a backup voltage signal from said first rechargeable power source, and wherein said backup voltage signal powers said second power consumption device;

second monitoring, by said computer processor after a specified time period has elapsed since said enabling said backup connection, said frequency signal associated with said input voltage signal at said first specified location;

generating, by said computer processor, second frequency level data associated with said second monitoring, wherein said second frequency level data comprises a second frequency level of said frequency signal;

second comparing, by said computer processor, said second frequency level to said predetermined frequency level value; and

generating, by said computer processor, second results data comprising second results of said second comparing.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said second results data indicates that said predetermined frequency level value exceeds said second frequency level, and wherein said method further comprises:

disabling, by said computer processor based on said second results data, said backup connection between said first rechargeable power source and said second power consumption device;

second enabling, by said computer processor in response to said second results data and said disabling said backup connection, a second input voltage signal connection of said input voltage signal connections, wherein said second input voltage signal connection is associated with said second power consumption device, and wherein said second enabling said second input voltage signal connection enables said second power consumption device to receive said input voltage signal;

third monitoring, by said computer processor in response to said second enabling, said frequency signal associated with said input voltage signal at said first specified location;

generating, by said computer processor, third frequency level data associated with said third monitoring, wherein said third frequency level data comprises a third frequency level of said frequency signal;

third comparing, by said computer processor, said third frequency level to said predetermined frequency level value; and

generating, by said computer processor, third results data comprising third results of said third comparing.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by said computer processor to a power provider entity computer associated with a power provider entity supplying said input voltage signal, said first results data and data indicating said first enabling.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal is received directly from a power provider entity supplying said input voltage signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal is received from a regional manager computer connected between said a power provider entity supplying said input voltage signal and said computer processor.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said input voltage signal connections are comprised by a plurality of relays.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said profile comprises data selected from the group consisting of a current time of day, a type of apparatus associated with each power consumption device of said power consumption devices, and an amount of power consumed by each said power consumption device.

14. A computer program product, comprising a computer storage medium comprising a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code configured to perform the method of claim 1 upon being enabled by said computer processor of said computing apparatus.

15. A process for supporting computer infrastructure, said process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in said computer processor, wherein the code in combination with the computer processor is capable of performing the method of claim 1.

16. A computing system comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when enabled by the computer processor implements a power restoration method comprising:

receiving, by said computer processor, a signal indicating that a power outage has ended and that an input voltage signal used for powering power consumption devices at a first specified location power will be enabled, said computing apparatus comprising a memory device, said memory device comprising a profile indicating an order for enabling each power consumption device of said power consumption devices;

disabling, by said computer processor, input voltage signal connections to each said power consumption device;

detecting, by said computer processor, that said input voltage signal at said first specified location is enabled;

first enabling, by said computer processor in response to said detecting and based on said profile, a first input voltage signal connection of said input voltage signal connections, wherein said first input voltage signal connection is associated with a first power consumption device of said power consumption devices, and wherein said first enabling said first input voltage signal connection enables said first power consumption device to receive said input voltage signal;

first monitoring, by said computer processor in response to said first enabling, a frequency signal associated with said input voltage signal at said first specified location;

generating, by said computer processor, first frequency level data associated with said first monitoring, wherein said first frequency level data comprises a first frequency level of said frequency signal;

first comparing, by said computer processor, said first frequency level to a predetermined frequency level value; and

generating, by said computer processor, first results data comprising first results of said first comparing.

17. The computing system of claim 16, wherein said first results data indicates that said first frequency level exceeds said predetermined frequency level value, and wherein said method further comprises:

first disabling, by said computer processor in response to said first results data, said first input voltage signal connection, wherein said first disabling said first input voltage signal connection disables said first power consumption device from receiving said input voltage signal;

second enabling, by said computer processor, in response to said first disabling and based on said profile, a second input voltage signal connection of said input voltage signal connections, wherein said second input voltage signal connection is associated with a second power consumption device of said power consumption devices, and wherein said second enabling said second input voltage signal connection enables said second power consumption device to receive said input voltage signal;

second monitoring, by said computer processor in response to said second enabling, said frequency signal associated with said input voltage signal at said first specified location;

generating, by said computer processor, second frequency level data associated with said second monitoring, wherein said second frequency level data comprises a second frequency level of said frequency signal;

second comparing, by said computer processor, said second frequency level to said predetermined frequency level value; and

generating, by said computer processor, second results data comprising second results of said second comparing.

18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein said method further comprises:

before said second enabling, transmitting by said computer processor, said first results data to a power provider entity computer associated with a power provider entity supplying said input voltage signal; and

receiving, by said computer processor from said power provider entity computer, approval data indicating permission to perform said second enabling.

19. The computing system of claim 16, wherein said first results data indicates that said predetermined frequency level value exceeds said first frequency level, and wherein said method further comprises:

second enabling, by said computer processor, in response to said first results data and based on said profile, a second input voltage signal connection of said input voltage signal connections, wherein said second input voltage signal connection is associated with a second power consumption device of said power consumption devices, and wherein said second enabling said second input voltage signal connection enables said second power consumption device to receive said input voltage signal;

second monitoring, by said computer processor in response to said second enabling, said frequency signal associated with said input voltage signal at said first specified location;

generating, by said computer processor, second frequency level data associated with said second monitoring, wherein said second frequency level data comprises a second frequency level of said frequency signal;

second comparing, by said computer processor, said second frequency level to said predetermined frequency level value; and

generating, by said computer processor, second results data comprising second results of said second comparing.

20. The computing system of claim 16, wherein said method further comprises:

before said second enabling, transmitting by said computer processor, said first results data to a power provider entity computer associated with a power provider entity supplying said input voltage signal; and

receiving, by said computer processor from said power provider entity computer, approval data indicating permission to perform said second enabling.