System and method for power management in a computer system having multiple power grids

• US 20040032168A1
• Filed: 08/15/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Zilavy, Daniel V., Cross, Edward A., Winick, Bradley D., Mankovich, James E., Allison, Michael, Langley, Phillip David
• Granted Patent: US 7,036,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/64
• 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 system and method for power management in a computer system having multiple power grids is disclosed. The system includes a service structure operable in conjunction with an operating system (OS) instance executed on the computer system. At least one uninterrupted power supply (UPS) and at least one alternative source of power provide power to the multiple power grids. Where an UPS sends a loss of power notification to the service structure, the service structure is operable to maintain power supply to the grids from an available alternative source of power.

Claims

1. A system for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid, said computer system operating to execute at least one instance of an operating system (OS), comprising:

at least one uninterrupted power supply (UPS) operating to supply power to a portion of said at least one power grid, wherein said at least one UPS is operable to send a loss of power notification;

at least one alternative source of power for supplying power to said at least one power grid; and

a service structure executable on said computer system, said service structure for monitoring said at least one UPS and said at least one alternative source of power, wherein said service structure is operable, responsive to receiving said loss of power notification from said at least one UPS, to continue to maintain power supply of said computer system from said at least one alternative source of power upon determining that said at least one alternative source of power is operational.

2. The system for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one alternative source of power includes an AC power line.

3. The system for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one alternative source of power includes a second UPS.

4. The system for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid as recited in claim 1, wherein said service structure is operable to send a loss of power message to said at least one OS responsive to receiving said loss of power notification.

5. The system for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second instance of OS installed on said computer system.

6. The system for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid as recited in claim 5, wherein said at least one OS and said second instance of OS are disposed in a partionable configuration of said computer system.

7. The system for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid as recited in claim 5, wherein said service structure is operable to send a loss of power message to said second instance of OS upon determining that no alternative source of power is operational.

8. The system for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid as recited in claim 7, wherein said service structure sends said loss of power message to said second instance of OS via a slave service structure in communication with said service structure and said second instance of OS.

9. The system for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid as recited in claim 8, wherein said partionable configuration of said computer system is disposed in an intranet.

10. The system for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid as recited in claim 9, wherein said partionable configuration of said computer system is operable with a firewall arrangement having a UPS isolator.

11. The system for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid as recited in claim 10, wherein said service structure is operable to send said loss of power notification to said slave service structure via said intranet.

12. A method for power management in a computer system having at least one power grid, comprising:

receiving a loss of power notification from an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) associated with a portion of said at least one power grid;

querying an alternative source of power associated with said at least one power grid for power availability;

continuing to supply power to said computer system from said alternative source of power upon determining that said alternative source of power is available; and

sending a loss of power message to an operating system (OS) instance executing on said computer system if no power is available from said alternative source of power.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said alternative source of power further comprises an AC line.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said alternative source of power further comprises a second UPS.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of sending said loss of power message to additional OS instances executing on said computer systems.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said step of sending said loss of power message to additional OS instances is effectuated via an intranet having a firewall configuration.

17. A system for power management in a computer system having multiple power grids, comprising:

means for receiving a loss of power notification from an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) associated with a portion of said multiple power grids;

means for querying at least one alternative source of power associated with said multiple power grids for power availability;

means for continuing to supply power to said computer system from at least one available alternative source of power; and

means for sending a loss of power message to an operating system (OS) instance executing on said computer system if no power is available from said at least one alternative source of power.

18. The system for power management in a computer system as recited in claim 17, wherein said alternative source of power further comprises an AC line.

19. The system for power management in a computer system as recited in claim 17, wherein said alternative source of power further comprises a second UPS.

20. The system for power management in a computer system as recited in claim 17, further comprising means for sending said loss of power message to additional OS instances executing on said computer systems.

21. The system for power management in a computer system as recited in claim 20, wherein said means for sending said loss of power message to additional OS instances is operable to transmit said loss of power message effectuated via an intranet having a firewall configuration.