Mobile data center

• US 9,141,139 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2014
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2012
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Arnouse Digital Devices Corporation
• Original Assignee: Arnouse Digital Devices Corporation
• Inventors: Arnouse, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tuan T
• Application Number:
  US14/507,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20150026515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 361699-710, 361/788, 361796-802
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1423 by reconfiguration of paths
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2023 Failover techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1488 Cabinets therefor, e.g. chassis or racks or mechanical interfaces between blades and support structures
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1489 characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays H05K7/1491 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20709 for server racks or cabinets; for data centers, e.g. 19-inch computer racks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20736 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0007 Casings standardised racks H05K9/0062

Abstract

A portable and mobile deployable data center (DDC) is disclosed, which includes various components that enables the DDC to have multiple functions including, computing, data storage and retrieval, communications and routing. A DDC includes a rugged case that suitable for harsh environments, an interconnection mechanism, a plurality of hot swappable readers, a plurality of hot swappable portable computing devices, and a plurality of hot swappable power supplies.

Claims

1. A readily mobile deployable data center (DDC) capable of being transported by hand, the mobile DDC comprising:

a secure carrying case including a top portion and a bottom portion;

at least one reader removably disposed within said bottom portion, wherein said at least one reader, when disposed in said bottom portion, provides a slot having at least one connector disposed therein;

a portable computing device having a processor and removably coupled to said at least one connector, said portable computing device being disposed, when coupled to said at least one connecter, within said slot so as to have the major plane of said portable computing device parallel to the major plane of said at least one reader; and

at least one power supply removably disposed in said bottom portion and electronically coupled to said at least one reader and said portable computing device, and

wherein said bottom portion includes a plurality of sidewalls and wherein a plurality of interfaces are disposed in at least one of said plurality of sidewalls.

2. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 1, wherein an air valve is disposed in another of said plurality of sidewalls.

3. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 1, further including an interconnection mechanism disposed in said bottom portion and electronically coupled to said at least one reader and said at least one power supply.

4. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 1, wherein when said top portion and said bottom portion are coupled together such that said secure carrying case is impregnable by liquids and dust.

5. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 1, wherein said securing carrying case protects said at least one reader and said portable computing device from dust, shock, water, condensation, and electromagnetic interference.

6. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 1, wherein the readily mobile DDC is capable of functioning as one or more of a computer cluster, a data storage and retrieval system, a communications router, and a resource server.

7. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 1, wherein access to the readily mobile DDC is securely controlled by authentication methods including at least one of:

a password, a fob token entry, a SIM Card, a SIPRNet token, a CAC card, or a biometric.

8. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 2, wherein said bottom portion includes a case fan in at least one of said plurality of sidewalls.

9. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 8, wherein said secure carrying case includes an airflow path and an exit fan disposed in an opposite sidewall from said case fan, said airflow path including:

directing air into said secure carrying case through said case fan;

propelling the entering air along a bottom surface of said bottom portion;

directing the air past said at least one readers, through said slot, and past said portable computing device; and

driving the air out of said secure carrying case through said exit fan.

10. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 8, wherein said portable computing device is fully protected by a coating applied to the surface of said portable computing device and wherein said securing carrying case includes no additional fan or air movement device except said case fan.

11. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 9, wherein said at least one reader includes a device fan, said device fan disposed proximate said slot.

12. A readily mobile deployable data center (DDC) capable of being transported by hand, the mobile DDC comprising:

a secure carrying case including a top portion and a bottom portion;

at least one reader removably disposed within said bottom portion, wherein said at least one reader, when disposed in said bottom portion, provides a slot having at least one connector disposed therein;

a portable computing device having a processor and removably coupled to said at least one connector, said portable computing device being disposed, when couple to said at least one connector, within said slot so as to have the major plane of said portable computing device parallel to the major plane of said at least one reader;

at least one power supply removably disposed in said bottom portion and electronically coupled to said at least one reader and said portable computing device; and

a mass storage device, wherein said mass storage device is removably coupled to said at least one reader via said slot and is accessible by said portable computing device.

13. A readily mobile deployable data center (DDC) capable of being transported by hand, the mobile DDC comprising:

a secure carrying case including a top portion and a bottom portion;

at least one reader removably disposed within said bottom portion, wherein said at least one reader, when disposed in said bottom portion, provides a slot having at least one connector disposed therein;

a portable computing device having a processor and removably coupled to said at least one connector, said portable computing device being disposed, when couple to said at least one connector, within said slot so as to have the major plane of said portable computing device parallel to the major plane of said at least one reader;

at least one power supply removably disposed in said bottom portion and electronically coupled to said at least one reader and said portable computing device; and

a display device, wherein said display device is disposed on said top portion within said secure carrying case and electronically coupled to said portable computing device.

14. A readily mobile DDC comprising:

a hand held carrying case having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein said bottom portion includes a plurality of interfaces extending through a sidewall of said bottom portion, and wherein when said top portion and said bottom portion are coupled together said hand held carrying case is impregnable by liquids and dust;

a plurality of readers removably disposed within said bottom portion, wherein each of said plurality of readers are disposed with said bottom portion such that a slot is formed between adjacent ones of said plurality of readers; and

a plurality of portable computing devices sized and configured to be removably coupled with a corresponding respective one of said plurality of readers within said slot formed between adjacent ones of said plurality of readers.

15. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 14, further including at least one power supply removably disposed within said bottom portion and electronically coupled to at least one of said plurality of interfaces.

16. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 14, further including an interconnection mechanism disposed in said bottom portion and electronically coupled to each of said plurality of interfaces, and wherein each of said plurality of readers is electronically coupled to said interconnection mechanism.

17. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 14, further including an external power source, said external power source providing power to said plurality of portable computing devices.

18. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 14, wherein a display device is disposed on said top portion within said hand held carrying case and electronically coupled to at least one of said plurality of portable computing devices.

19. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 14, where each of said plurality of portable computing devices is fully protected by a coating applied to the surface of each respective one of said plurality of portable computing devices.

20. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 14, further including a mass storage device, wherein said mass storage device is removably coupled to one of said plurality of readers via said slot and is accessible by one or more of said plurality of portable computing devices.

21. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of readers are a shell and are inoperable for performing computing functions without at least one of said plurality of portable computing devices coupled thereto.

22. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 14, wherein one or more of said plurality of portable computing devices is coupled to a corresponding respective one said plurality of readers to form a unitary board prior to being disposed within said bottom portion.

23. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 16, further including at least one power supply removably coupled to said interconnection mechanism, said at least one power supply being rechargeable through one of said interfaces by an external power source.

24. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 16, further including a cover plate sized and configured to be disposed between said top portion and said bottom portion, and wherein said plurality of readers, said plurality of portable computers, and said at least one power supply are secured within said hand-held carrying case via said cover plate.

25. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 17, further including a power converter, said power converter conditioning the power provided by said external power source for use with said plurality of portable computing devices.

26. A readily mobile DDC according to claim 23, wherein said hand held carrying case protects said plurality of readers, said plurality of portable computers, and said at least one power supply from at least two of dust, shock, water, condensation and electromagnetic interference.