System and interface for controlling devices

• US 8,578,391 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Satoru, Kentaroh, Sugiyama
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Lechi
• Application Number:
  US12/233,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20090119683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 719/310, 713/300
• US Class Current: 719/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836

Abstract

A group of IT devices is divided into zones according to a predetermined condition. An IT managing server that manages the group of IT devices sends a control request for changing the state of IT devices included in one of the zones according to the state of those IT devices under its management. The control request specifies the zone as a control target. A facility managing server that manages a group of facility devices receives the control request and controls a facility device that exerts effect on the zone, which is specified as the control target in the control request.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first managing server for managing a group of computing devices and for sending a control request for changing a temperature state of a selected computing device in the group of computing devices, wherein the group of computing devices is divided into a plurality of zones according to a predetermined condition, and wherein the selected computing device is located in one of the plurality of zones; and

a second managing server for managing a group of air-conditioners, for receiving the control request, and for controlling an identified air-conditioner in the group of air-conditioners that exerts a temperature changing effect on the zone in which the selected computing device is located;

wherein the first managing server comprises;

a first managing unit for generating a control request specifying the selected computing device as a control target, according to a temperature state of each of the computing devices;

a first storing unit for storing correspondence information indicating a correspondence between each computing device and the plurality of zones, the correspondence information for each computing device indicating the zone in which the computing device is located; and

a first converter for converting the control request into zone information identifying the zone in which the selected computing device is located, based on the correspondence information stored in the first storing unit; and

wherein the second managing server comprises;

a second storing unit for storing correspondence information indicating a correspondence between each zone and the group of air-conditioners, the correspondence information for each zone indicating the air-conditioner that exerts a temperature changing effect on the zone;

a second converter for converting the zone information provided by the first converter into information identifying the air-conditioner in the group of air conditioners that has a temperature changing effect on the zone identified by the zone information, based on the correspondence information stored in the second storing unit; and

a second managing unit for controlling the identified air conditioner to change a temperature state of the selected computing device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second managing server sends a control request to the first managing server for changing an operational state of the selected computing device, according to a state of the identified air-conditioner under its management, and wherein the first managing server receives the control request and controls the selected computing device.

3. A system comprising:

a first managing server for managing a group of computing devices and for sending a control request for changing a power state of a selected computing device in the group of computing devices, wherein the group of computing devices is divided into a plurality of zones according to a predetermined condition, and wherein the selected computing device is located in one of the plurality of zones; and

a second managing server for managing a group of power supply units, for receiving the control request, and for controlling an identified power supply unit in the group of power supply units that exerts a power changing effect on the zone in which the selected computing device is located;

wherein the first managing server comprises;

a first managing unit for generating a control request specifying the selected computing device as a control target, according to a power state of each of the computing devices;

a first storing unit for storing correspondence information indicating a correspondence between each computing device and the plurality of zones, the correspondence information for each computing device indicating the zone in which the computing device is located; and

a first converter for converting the control request into zone information identifying the zone in which the selected computing device is located, based on the correspondence information stored in the first storing unit; and

wherein the second managing server comprises;

a second storing unit for storing correspondence information indicating a correspondence between each zone and the group of power supply units, the correspondence information for each zone indicating the power supply unit that exerts a power changing effect on the zone;

a second converter for converting the zone information provided by the first converter into information identifying the power supply unit in the group of power supply units that has a power changing effect on the zone identified by the zone information, based on the correspondence information stored in the second storing unit; and

a second managing unit for controlling the identified power supply unit to change a power state of the selected computing device.