Smart cart to automatically manage portable information handling systems

• US 8,373,383 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Dandekar, Shree, Douglas, David, Verdun, Gary, Dvorak, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US12/578,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/109, 320/110, 320/111, 320/115, 320/137
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

A smart cart for automatically managing a plurality of information handling systems. The system provides a plurality of functions. For example, in certain embodiments, the system provides one or more of security authentication for distributing the notebooks, automatic asset tracking functionality; identification of notebook charge status; provides identification of asset information (e.g., an asset tag number, a serial number or a computer name); network access to push patch updates at night when units are not in use; and charging control to optimize system availability and prevent AC input circuit overload.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing a plurality of information handling systems comprising:

a cart for holding the plurality of information handling systems;

a charge controller coupled to the cart;

a control center coupled to the cart and the charge controller, the cart, the charge controller and the control center providing an intelligent docking station for an array of information handling systems; and

wherein

the intelligent docking station provides security authentication for distributing the information handling systems,

automatic asset tracking of the plurality of information handling systems;

identification of information handling system charge status;

identification of asset information of the plurality of information handling systems;

network access to the plurality of information handling systems to facilitate updates to the plurality of information handling systems when the plurality of information handling systems are not in use;

and charging control to optimize information handling system availability and prevent AC input circuit overload.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the charge controller uses battery capacity, charge status, and maximum charge rate controller to optimize charge profiles to meet usage model demands.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the usage model demands maximize a number of information handling systems with full charge or maximizing charge on at least a predefined number of information handling systems for an expected pickup time.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the smart cart system tracks information handling system battery aging and prompts a user for replacement of worn out batteries.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

charge status identification, asset identification information identification and hot plug detection are accomplished via a system management (SM) bus of a docking connector or via a one wire interface of a respective power barrel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the cart, the charge controller and the control center are coupled via a wireless communication medium.

7. An apparatus for managing a plurality of information handling systems comprising:

means for holding the plurality of information handling systems;

a charge controller coupled to the means for holding the plurality of information handling systems; and

a control center coupled to the cart and the charge controller, the cart, the charge controller and the control center providing an intelligent docking station for an array of information handling systems; and

wherein

the intelligent docking station provides security authentication for distributing the information handling systems, automatic asset tracking of the plurality of information handling systems;

identification of information handling system charge status;

identification of asset information of the plurality of information handling systems;

network access to the plurality of information handling systems to facilitate updates to the plurality of information handling systems when the plurality of information handling systems are not in use;

and charging control to optimize information handling system availability and prevent AC input circuit overload.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the charge controller uses battery capacity, charge status, and maximum charge rate controller to optimize charge profiles to meet usage model demands.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the usage model demands maximize a number of information handling systems with full charge or maximizing charge on at least a predefined number of information handling systems for an expected pickup time.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein:

the smart cart system tracks information handling system battery aging and prompts a user for replacement of worn out batteries.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:

charge status identification, asset identification information identification and hot plug detection are accomplished via a system management (SM) bus of a docking connector or via a one wire interface of a respective power barrel.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the cart, the charge controller and the control center are coupled via a wireless communication medium.