METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING PHYSICAL LOCATION OF EQUIPMENT

• US 20080317021A1
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Berard, Stephen, Ives, Edward, Lehmann, Gert
• Granted Patent: US 8,880,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3051 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs verification or detection of system hardware configuration G06F11/2247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3062 where the monitored property is the power consumption power management in a computing system G06F1/3203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/085 Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for automatically determining certain physical characteristics of a network device. In one embodiment, a method is employed to automatically determine the physical location of a network device. This method may employ a computer based system to acquire network device information, instruct the network devices to change power consumption, detect the changes and determine the physical location of the network device based on the changes detected. In another embodiment, a method is employed to automatically determine the functional type of a network device. This method may employ a computer based system to monitor the power drawn by the network device at a power distribution device and determine the network device functional type based on the power drawn.

Claims

1. A method of determining a physical location of a network device, the method comprising:

detecting a change in power at a power distribution device having a physical location and coupled to the network device to provide power to the network device; and

determining the physical location of the network device based on the physical location of the power distribution device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the physical location of the network device includes comparing the change in power to a change in network device utilization.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to detecting a change in power, waiting for an event to occur.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the event includes instructing the network device to change power consumption.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein instructing the network device to change power consumption includes instructing the network device to change power consumption at a predetermined time.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the event includes installing the network device.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the event includes replacing the network device.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein instructing the network device to change power consumption includes instructing the network device to reduce power consumption.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein instructing the network device to change power consumption includes accessing the network device over a network.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein instructing the network device to change power consumption includes instructing the network device to increase power consumption.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the physical location of the network device with the physical location of the power distribution device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a representation of the network device in a physical context using a graphical display.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a representation of the power distribution device and network devices associated with the power distribution device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device includes a transfer switch having a first input for a first power supply and a second input for a second power supply, the method further including:

identifying a power distribution device that supplies the first power supply; and

identifying a power distribution device that supplies the second power supply.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions that, as a result of being executed by a processor, instruct the processor to perform the method of claim 1.

15. A method of determining a functional type of a network device, the method comprising:

monitoring power drawn by the network device at a power distribution device; and

determining the functional type of the network device based on the power drawn.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions that, as a result of being executed by a processor, instruct the processor to perform the method of claim 15.

18. A system for detecting a physical location of a network device, the system comprising:

at least one input arranged and configured to receive network device information;

at least one controller arranged and configured to detect a change in power at a power distribution device having a physical location and coupled to the network device, and further arranged and configured to determine the physical location of the network device; and

at least one output arranged and configured to display a representation of the physical location of the network device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one controller is further arranged and configured to instruct at least one network device to change power consumption.

20. A system for automatically detecting a functional type of a network device, the system comprising:

at least one input arranged and configured to receive network device information;

at least one controller arranged and configured to generate a list of potential network device functional types supplied by a power distribution device based on a power demand at the power distribution device;

at least one output arranged and configured to display the list of potential network device functional types for selection; and

at least one input arranged and configured to record the selection.

21. The system of claim 20,

wherein the at least one controller is further arranged and configured to determine at least one network device including a transfer switch having a first input for a first power supply and a second input for a second power supply;

and

wherein the at least one output is further arranged and configured to display the at least one network device including a transfer switch.

22. The system of claim 21,

wherein the at least one output is further arranged and configured to display a power distribution device that supplies the first power supply and a power distribution device that supplies the second power supply.