Power-manager configuration upload and download method and system for network managers

• US 7,774,443 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Williams, Jay Henley, Cleveland, Andrew J., Auclair, Brian P., Maskaly, James P., Ewing, Carrel W., Bigler, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chankong; Dohm
• Application Number:
  US09/892,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,332 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/217, 709/223, 709/220, 709/253, 710/15
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off

Abstract

A power management system embodiment of the present invention comprises a power manager with a network agent in communication over a network with a network manager. The power manager is connected to control the operating power flowing to various pieces of computer network equipment at a single site. A user is able to assign names to each control port, and the power manager maintains a list of enrolled users who have access. Many operational mode choices are possible, and each can be configured by the user while remote from the power manager. The power manager can be commanded to upload a user configuration list, and it can be commanded to accept a downloaded user configuration list.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable network-equipment power- management system, comprising:

a power-distribution apparatus having a power input disposed in the power-distribution apparatus and a communication interface disposed in the power-distribution apparatus for communicating with a remote user system;

a plurality of power-control outlets disposed in the power-distribution apparatus, the plurality of power-control outlets connectable in power supply communication with the power input and one or more separate electronic appliances;

a plurality of power-control relays disposed in the power-distribution apparatus, each of the plurality of power-control relays in power control communication with at least one among the plurality of power-control outlets, whereby the plurality of power-control outlets and the plurality of power-control relays provide operating power to the one or more separate electronic appliances and are able to interrupt the operating power to the one or more separate electronic appliances;

a power-control outlet user configuration accessible by the remote user system for affecting the power provided or interrupted to the plurality of power-control outlets, wherein the power-control outlet user configuration comprises user configuration data for at least one of e the plurality of power-control outlets disposed in the power-distribution apparatus;

a memory disposed in the power-distribution apparatus and having a power-control outlet user configuration storage area; and

at least one power controller disposed in the power-distribution apparatus, wherein the at least one power controller corresponds to at least two of the plurality of power-control outlets, the at least one power controller comprising a power-control outlet user configuration transfer mechanism in communication with the communication interface accessible by the remote user system, whereby the power-control outlet user configuration transfer mechanism imports and exports the power-control outlet user configuration data between the power-distribution apparatus and the remote user system via the communication interface as a plurality of data packets that are assembled to form the power-control outlet user configuration; and

a network software conversion agent in communication with a remote power manager at the remote user system, whereby the network software conversion agent converts software commands communicated as TCP/IP packets into signals that can be understood by the remote power manager.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a configuration upload command mechanism in communication with the power-control outlet user configuration transfer mechanism, whereby the configuration upload command mechanism recognizes a user command to upload the power-control outlet user configuration from the memory disposed in the power-distribution apparatus to a destination.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a configuration substitution command mechanism in communication with the power-control outlet user configuration transfer mechanism, whereby the configuration substitution command mechanism recognizes a user command to download a substitute power-control outlet user configuration to the memory disposed in the power-distribution apparatus from a source.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an integrity-checking application that checks the integrity of substitute power-control outlet user configuration data downloaded to the memory disposed in the power-distribution apparatus and facilitates rejection of a corrupted data transfer.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an integrity-checking application that checks the integrity of substitute power-control outlet user configuration data downloaded to the memory disposed in the power-distribution apparatus and facilitates adoption of an acceptable data transfer.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a configuration editor application that allows for construction of a substitute power-control outlet user configuration.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a configuration editor application that allows for modification of the power-control outlet user configuration into a substitute power-control outlet user configuration.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a command mechanism in communication with the power-control outlet user configuration transfer mechanism, whereby the command mechanism recognizes a first user command to upload the power-control outlet user configuration from the memory disposed in the power-distribution apparatus to a destination and recognizes a second user command to download a substitute power-control outlet user configuration to the memory disposed in the power-distribution apparatus from a source;

a transfer mechanism, whereby the transfer mechanism checks the integrity of the substitute power-control outlet user configuration downloaded to the memory disposed in the power-distribution apparatus and rejects a corrupted-file transfer, and whereby the transfer mechanism also checks the integrity of the substitute power-control outlet user configuration data downloaded to the memory disposed in the power-distribution apparatus and adopts for use an acceptable data transfer; and

an editor application, whereby the editor application allows for modification of the power-control outlet user configuration into a substitute user configuration.