Managing a Datacenter Using Mobile Devices

• US 20110218730A1
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vmware LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: VMware, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: WONG, Karen Natalie, KOLIN, Benjamin Trevor, RIDER, Eric Marshall
• Granted Patent: US 9,097,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/00 Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field H04B10/00, H04B15/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is a method for managing a datacenter using a mobile device, which method includes: (a) in response to a user request, the mobile device causing an identification prober to obtain information from one or more of a plurality of identification providers disposed at predetermined locations in the datacenter, and determining a mobile device location in the datacenter therefrom; (b) the mobile device requesting a datacenter map from a datacenter management system, displaying at least a portion of the map on a mobile device display, and displaying the mobile device location on the at least a portion of the map; and (c) the mobile device obtaining an equipment location of an equipment in the datacenter from the datacenter management system, displaying directions from the mobile device location to the equipment location, and displaying the equipment location on the at least a portion of the map if it fits in the display.

Claims

1. A method for managing a datacenter using a mobile device, which method comprises:

in response to a user request, the mobile device causing an identification prober to obtain information from one or more of a plurality of identification providers disposed at predetermined locations in the datacenter, and determining a mobile device location in the datacenter therefrom;

the mobile device requesting a datacenter map from a datacenter management system, displaying at least a portion of the map on a mobile device display, and displaying the mobile device location on the at least a portion of the map; and

the mobile device obtaining an equipment location of an equipment in the datacenter from the datacenter management system, displaying directions from the mobile device location to the equipment location, and displaying the equipment location on the at least a portion of the map if it fits in the display.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating the location of the mobile device as the user moves in the datacenter; and

updating the directions from the mobile device location to the equipment location as the user moves in the datacenter.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

in response to a user request, the mobile device causing the identification prober to obtain information from an identification provider affixed to an equipment rack, and transmitting the information to the datacenter management system;

the datacenter management system transmitting a photographic image of the equipment rack to the mobile device; and

the mobile device displaying the image.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

in response to a user request, the datacenter management system causing the equipment to provide an auditory or visual output.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

in response to a user request, the mobile device causing the identification prober to obtain information from an identification provider affixed to the equipment; and

transmitting the information to the datacenter management system.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

in response to a user request, the datacenter management system collecting logs from the equipment.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

in response to a user request, the datacenter management system making the equipment ready for replacement.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in response to a user request, the mobile device displaying an identifier of the equipment.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

in response to a user request, the mobile device causing the identification prober to obtain information from an identification provider affixed to a replacement equipment; and

transmitting the information to the datacenter management system.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

the user installing the replacement equipment; and

in response to a user request, the mobile device confirming installation of the replacement equipment.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

in response to a user request, the mobile device confirming activation of the replacement equipment.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification prober is a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and the identification providers are RFID tags.

13. The method of claim 3 wherein the identification prober is a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and the identification providers are RFID tags.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein the identification prober is a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and the identification providers are RFID tags.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the identification prober is a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and the identification providers are RFID tags.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification prober is a camera and the identification providers are barcodes.

17. The method of claim 3 wherein the identification prober is a camera and the identification providers are barcodes.

18. The method of claim 5 wherein the identification prober is a camera and the identification providers are barcodes.

19. The method of claim 9 wherein the identification prober is a camera and the identification providers are barcodes.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification prober is a Bluetooth connector and the identification providers are datacenter Bluetooth connectors.

22. The method of claim 3 wherein the identification prober is a Bluetooth connector and the identification providers are datacenter Bluetooth connectors.

23. The method of claim 5 wherein the identification prober is a Bluetooth connector and the identification providers are datacenter Bluetooth connectors.

24. The method of claim 9 wherein the identification prober is a Bluetooth connector and the identification providers are datacenter Bluetooth connectors.

20. A method for managing a datacenter using a mobile device, which method comprises:

in response to a user request, determining a mobile device location in the datacenter using Wi-Fi signals or GPS signals received by the mobile device;

the mobile device requesting a datacenter map from a datacenter management system, displaying at least a portion of the map on a mobile device display, and displaying the mobile device location on the at least a portion of the map; and

the mobile device obtaining an equipment location of an equipment in the datacenter from the datacenter management system, displaying directions from the mobile device location to the equipment location, and displaying the equipment location on the at least a portion of the map if it fits in the display.

25. Apparatus for managing a datacenter which includes identification providers attached to equipment and one or more identification providers disposed at predetermined locations in the datacenter, which apparatus comprises:

a mobile device in communication with an identification prober;

wherein the mobile device is operable, in response to a user request, to cause the identification prober to obtain information from the one or more of a plurality of identification providers, and to determining a mobile device location in the datacenter therefrom;

wherein the mobile device is further operable to request a datacenter map from a datacenter management system, to display at least a portion of the map on a mobile device display, and to display the mobile device location on the at least a portion of the map; and

wherein the mobile device is further operable to obtain an equipment location of an equipment in the datacenter from the datacenter management system, to display directions from the mobile device location to the equipment location, and to displaying the equipment location on the at least a portion of the map if it fits in the display.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein:

the mobile device is further operable to update the location of the mobile device as the user moves in the datacenter; and

to update the directions from the mobile device location to the equipment location as the user moves in the datacenter.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein:

the mobile device is further operable, in response to a user request, to cause the identification prober to obtain information from an identification provider affixed to an equipment rack, and to transmit the information to the datacenter management system;

to receive a photographic image of the equipment rack from the datacenter management system; and

to display the image.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein:

the mobile device is further operable, in response to a user request, to cause the identification prober to obtain information from an identification provider affixed to the equipment; and

to transmit the information to the datacenter management system.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein:

the mobile device is further operable, in response to a user request, to cause the identification prober to obtain information from an identification provider affixed to a replacement equipment; and

to transmit the information to the datacenter management system.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein:

the mobile device is further operable, in response to a user request, to confirm installation of the replacement equipment.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein:

the mobile device is further operable, in response to a user request, to confirm activation of the replacement equipment.

32. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the identification prober is a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and the identification providers are RFID tags.