Power supply controlling system, control method for power supply controlling system, and power supply controlling apparatus

• US 8,707,067 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Katayama, Shinichi, Nagao, Naoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): YANCHUS III, PAUL B
• Application Number:
  US13/067,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20110296210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/310
• 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 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3284 Power saving in printer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A power supply controlling system including: a first power supply controlling apparatus that supplies an electric power to a device; and a second power supply controlling apparatus that supplies an electric power to another device, communicates with the first power supply controlling apparatus, and mediates communication between the first power supply controlling apparatus and a terminal device to control power supply to the device, the terminal device controlling the power supply to the device; wherein the first power supply controlling apparatus communicates with the terminal device without relaying the second power supply controlling apparatus, according to interruption of the communication between the first power supply controlling apparatus and the second power supply controlling apparatus.

Claims

1. A power supply controlling system comprising:

a first power supply controlling apparatus that supplies an electric power to a device; and

a second power supply controlling apparatus that supplies an electric power to another device, communicates with the first power supply controlling apparatus, and mediates communication between the first power supply controlling apparatus and a terminal device to control power supply to the device, the terminal device controlling the power supply to the device;

wherein the first power supply controlling apparatus assumes a function of the second power supply controlling apparatus based on information received from the terminal device without relaying the second power supply controlling apparatus, when the communication between the first power supply controlling apparatus and the second power supply controlling apparatus is interrupted.

2. The power supply controlling system according to claim 1, wherein the first power supply controlling apparatus notifies the second power supply controlling apparatus of information on the electric power which the first power supply controlling apparatus has supplied to the device, and

the second power supply controlling apparatus notifies the first power supply controlling apparatus of information on the electric power which the second power supply controlling apparatus has supplied to the another device, and information on communication with the terminal device.

3. The power supply controlling system according to claim 2, wherein when the communication between the first power supply controlling apparatus and the second power supply controlling apparatus is interrupted, the first power supply controlling apparatus notifies the terminal device of the information on the electric power which the second power supply controlling apparatus has supplied to the another device, the information on the electric power being notified from the second power supply controlling apparatus.

4. The power supply controlling system according to claim 1, wherein another first power supply controlling apparatus of the first group of power supply controlling apparatuses communicates with the terminal device through the second power supply controlling apparatus.

5. The power supply controlling system according to claim 4, wherein the second power supply controlling apparatus gives a unique number to each of the first power supply controlling apparatuses, and

the order is determined based on the unique number given to each of the first power supply controlling apparatuses.

6. The power supply controlling system according to claim 1, wherein the first power supply controlling apparatus notifies the terminal device that the first power supply controlling apparatus communicates with the terminal device without relaying the second power supply controlling apparatus to control the power supply to the device.

7. A control method for the power supply controlling system that includes a first power supply controlling apparatus that supplies an electric power to a device, and a second power supply controlling apparatus that mediates communication between the first power supply controlling apparatus and a terminal device, the control method comprising:

judging whether the second power supply controlling apparatus is capable of communicating with the first power supply controlling apparatus; and

causing the first power supply controlling apparatus to assume a function of the second power supply controlling apparatus based on information received from the terminal device without relaying the second power supply controlling apparatus to control power supply to the device when the communication between the first power supply controlling apparatus and the second power supply controlling apparatus is interrupted.

8. A power supply controlling apparatus that supplies an electric power to a device, comprising:

a communication portion that communicates with another power supply controlling apparatus, and communicates with a terminal device to control power supply to the device, the another power supply controlling apparatus supplying an electric power to another device, and the terminal device controlling power supply to the device through the another power supply controlling apparatus; and

a control portion that controls the communication portion to assumes a function of the another power supply controlling apparatus based on information received from the terminal device without relaying the another power supply controlling apparatus to control power supply to the device, when the communication with the another power supply controlling apparatus is interrupted.