POWER SUPPLYING SYSTEM, MONITORING APPARATUS, MONITORING METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM

• US 20090210737A1
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tajima, Shigeru, Nishida, Yoshifumi
• Granted Patent: US 9,049,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40045 Details regarding the feeding of energy to the node from the bus

Abstract

A power supplying system is configured so that a power supply server for supplying power and a client for receiving power are connected through a bus line on which an information signal representing information and power exist superimposed on one another, and the information signal is exchanged between the power supply server and the client. To the bus line of the power supplying system, a monitoring apparatus to monitor at least one of the information signal and power information related to power is connected. The monitoring apparatus includes a receiving portion to detect an information signal existing on the bus line, and a display control portion to display at least one of the information signal and the power information exchanged between the power supply server and the client.

Claims

1. A power supplying system where a power supply server for supplying power and a client for receiving power are connected through a bus line on which an information signal representing information and power exist superimposed on one another, and the information signal is exchanged between the power supply server and the client, comprising:

a monitoring apparatus connected to the bus line, to monitor at least one of the information signal and power information related to power;

wherein the monitoring apparatus includes

a receiving portion to detect an information signal existing on the bus line; and

a display control portion to display at least one of the information signal and the power information exchanged between the power supply server and the client.

2. The power supplying system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring apparatus further includes:

an information processing portion to generate an information signal to be transmitted to the power supply server or the client; and

a transmitting portion to transmit the information signal to the power supply server or the client.

3. The power supplying system according to claim 2, wherein

the monitoring apparatus transmits an information signal for requesting a content to be displayed to the power supply server or the client,

the power supply server or the client transmits an information signal for displaying the requested content to the monitoring apparatus, and

the monitoring apparatus performs processing for displaying the information signal received from the power supply server or the client in the display control portion.

4. The power supplying system according to claim 3, wherein

the content requested to the power supply server or the client by the monitoring apparatus is a server power profile indicating a power specification of the power supply server or a client power profile indicating a specification of the client.

5. The power supplying system according to claim 2, wherein

the monitoring apparatus includes an interface portion serving as the transmitting portion and the receiving portion, to allow connection with the power supply server or the client without through the bus line, and

the power supply server and the client include a connecting portion to be connected with the interface portion of the monitoring apparatus.

6. The power supplying system according to claim 5, wherein

the monitoring apparatus transmits an information signal for stopping power supply to the client to the power supply server through the interface portion, and

the power supply server stops power supply to the client based on the received information signal.

7. The power supplying system according to claim 2, wherein

the monitoring apparatus includes an input portion to input an information signal to be transmitted to the power supply server or the client.

8. The power supplying system according to claim 1, wherein

the monitoring apparatus functions as the power supply server or the client.

9. A monitoring apparatus connected to a bus line on which an information signal representing information and power exist superimposed on one another, to monitor at least one of the information signal and power information related to power exchanged between a power supply server for supplying power and a client for receiving power connected through the bus line, comprising:

a receiving portion to detect an information signal existing on the bus line; and

a display control portion to display at least one of the information signal and the power information exchanged between the power supply server and the client.

10. A monitoring method of monitoring at least one of an information signal and power information related to power exchanged between a power supply server for supplying power and a client for receiving power connected through a bus line on which an information signal representing information and power exist superimposed on one another, comprising the steps of:

detecting an information signal existing on the bus line; and

performing control to display at least one of the information signal and the power information exchanged between the power supply server and the client.

11. A computer program causing a computer to function as a monitoring apparatus connected to a bus line on which an information signal representing information and power exist superimposed on one another, to monitor at least one of the information signal and power information related to power exchanged between a power supply server for supplying power and a client for receiving power connected through the bus line, comprising:

a receiving means to detect an information signal existing on the bus line; and

a display control means to display at least one of the information signal and the power information exchanged between the power supply server and the client.