Remote power control system with tickle capability

• US 8,527,619 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Ewing, Carrel W., Cleveland, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Haresh N
• Application Number:
  US12/963,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20110197080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-228, 713/300, 713/310, 713/330, 713/340, 340/693.1, 307 34- 38
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

An SNMP network comprises a power manager with an SNMP agent in TCP/IP communication over a network with an SNMP 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 SNMP network manager with MIB variables in response to GET 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 SNMP 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 remotely manageable power distribution unit comprising in combination:

A. a power strip housing;

B. a power input disposed in the power strip housing;

C. a first plurality of power outputs disposed in the power strip housing, each of the first plurality of power outputs being connectable to one of more electrical loads external to the power strip housing and to the power input;

D. a power control section disposed with the power strip housing and being connectable in network communication through TCP/IP with a remote power control system and in power controlling communication with one of more of the power outputs among the first plurality of power outputs;

E. an intelligent power module within the power control section, and being connectable in power communication with one of a plurality of external electrical appliances mounted in an electrical equipment rack; and

F. a tickle issuance circuit disposed with the power strip housing and being connectable in communication with the remote power control system and in communication with at least one of the external electrical appliances, the tickle issuance circuit operative to;

i) issue an appliance identity testing signal to any of the plurality of external electrical appliances,

ii) issue a power-related command to the intelligent power module, and

iii) send a message identifying a respective one or more of the external electrical appliances that has been tickled to a network monitor and a system administrator of the remote power control system.

2. The remotely manageable power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the power control section comprises one of a power-on sensing circuit, a load sensing circuit, and a power off circuit.

3. The remotely manageable power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the power control section comprises two of a power-on sensing circuit, a load sensing circuit, and a power off circuit.

4. The remotely manageable power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the power control section comprises a power-on sensing circuit, a load sensing circuit, and a power off circuit.

5. The remotely manageable power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the power strip housing is mounted in an electrical equipment rack.

6. Amended) A method of remotely managing power distribution unit, the method comprising in combination:

A. providing a power strip housing;

B. providing a power input disposed in the power strip housing;

C. providing a first plurality of power outputs disposed in the power strip housing, each of the first plurality of power outputs being connectable to one of more electrical loads external to the power strip housing and to the power input;

D. providing a power control section disposed with the power strip housing in network communication through TCP/IP with a remote power control system and in power controlling communication with one of more of the power outputs among the first plurality of power outputs;

E. providing an intelligent power module within the power control section, and in power communication with one of a plurality of external electrical appliances mounted in an electrical equipment rack; and

F. providing a tickle issuance circuit disposed with the power strip housing in communication with the remote power control system and in communication with at least one of the external electrical appliances; and

with the tickle issuance circuit;

i) issuing an appliance identity testing signal to any of the plurality of external electrical appliances,

ii) issuing a power-related command to the intelligent power module, and

iii) sending a message identifying a respective one or more of the external electrical appliances that has been tickled to a network monitor and a system administrator of the remote power control system.

7. The method of claim 6, also comprising, with the power distribution unit, sensing power information status of at least one of the external electrical appliances, wherein the power information status comprises at least one of a power-on status and a load status.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising communicating the power information status to a remote network manager through an IP connection.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising, in response to issuing the appliance identity testing signal, sending an identity report to a network monitor, the identity report comprising information identifying the one or more among the external electrical appliances.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising, in response to issuing the appliance identity testing signal, sending an identity report to a network monitor, the identity report comprising information identifying the one or more among the external electrical appliances.

11. The method of claim 6, also comprising, with the power distribution unit, controlling the supply of power to the one or more among the external electrical appliances.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising, upon receiving an external appliance identity response to the appliance identity testing signal, issuing a power-related command with respect to one of the one or more among the external electrical appliances, wherein the power-related command comprises one of a power on command, a power off command, and a power cycle command.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of issuing a power-related command comprises issuing the power-related command to the intelligent power module, wherein the intelligent power module is in operating power communication with one of the one or more among the external electrical appliances.