111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007702771B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Ewing et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7, 702,771 B2
`*Apr. 20, 2010
`
`(54) ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION
`DEVICE HAVING A CURRENT DISPLAY
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Carrel W. Ewing, Incline Village, NV
`(US); Brian P. Auclair, Reno, NV (US);
`Andrew J. Cleveland, Reno, NV (US);
`James P. Maskaly, Sparks, NV (US);
`Dennis W. McGlumphy, Sun Valley,
`NV (US); Mark J. Bigler, Eugene, OR
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Server Technology, Inc., Reno, NV
`(US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 278 days.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 151173
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`H02B 1/00
`(2006.01)
`H02B 5/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 709/223; 361/601; 361/602;
`361/624; 361/626; 361/627; 361/641; 307/11;
`307/18; 307/31; 307/32; 307/36; 307/37;
`307/43
`(58) Field of Classification Search ....................... None
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,638,175 A
`
`111987 Bradford et al.
`
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`"TPC 4000/MTD: World's First 1U, 30, 16A or 32A Distribution
`Unit," Pulizzi Engineering Inc., 2 pp. (1999).
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/548,471
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 11, 2006
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2007/0076340Al
`
`Apr. 5, 2007
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 11/243,701, filed on
`Oct. 4, 2005, which is a continuation of application
`No. 09/930,780, filed on Aug. 15, 2001, now Pat. No.
`7,043,543, which is a continuation-in-part of applica(cid:173)
`tion No. 09/732,557, filed on Dec. 8, 2000, now Pat.
`No. 7,099,934, which is a continuation-in-part of
`application No. 09/375,471, filed on Aug. 16, 1999,
`now Pat. No. 6,711,613, which is a continuation-in(cid:173)
`part of application No. 08/685,436, filed on Jul. 23,
`1996, now Pat. No. 5,949,974.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner-Ashok B Patel
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holland & Hart LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An electrical power distribution unit can include a power
`distribution unit enclosure, a power input associated with the
`power distribution unit enclosure, and a plurality of power
`outputs associated with the power distribution unit enclosure.
`At least certain power outputs can be connectable to one or
`more electrical loads external to the power distribution unit
`enclosure and to the power input. In some embodiments, an
`intelligent power section can communicate with at least one
`of the power outputs and can connect to a communications
`network external to the power distribution unit enclosure.
`
`23 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`110
`
`IPR Page 1
`
`Raritan v. Server Technology
`
`RARITAN EXHIBIT 1002
`
`

`
`US 7,702,771 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,644,320 A
`4,674,031 A
`4,719,364 A
`4,769,555 A
`4,918,562 A
`5,424,903 A
`5,506,573 A
`5,534,734 A
`5,642,002 A
`5,650,771 A
`5,736,847 A
`5,923,103 A
`5,949,974 A
`5,995,911 A
`6,008,805 A
`6,011,329 A
`6,160,873 A
`6,229,691 B1
`6,381,700 B1
`6,388,854 B1
`6,408,334 B1
`6,476,729 B1
`6,507,273 B1
`6,628,009 B1
`6,684,343 B1
`6,711,613 B1
`6,741,442 B1
`6,826,036 B2
`6,968,465 B2
`7,010,589 B2
`7,043,543 B2
`7,099,934 B1
`7,119,676 B1
`7,141,891 B2
`7,162,521 B2
`7,171,461 B2
`7,349,956 B2
`2002/0004913 A1
`2002/0120676 A1
`2005/0203987 A1
`2005/0223090 A1
`2006/0031453 A1
`2006/0031454 A1
`2006/0072531 A1
`2006/0186739 A1
`2006/0259538 A1
`2007/0016664 A1
`2007/0050443 A1
`2007/0130243 A1
`2007/0136453 A1
`2007/0140238 A1
`
`2/1987 Carr eta!.
`6/1987 Siska, Jr.
`111988 Pequet eta!.
`9/1988 Pequet eta!.
`4/1990 Pulizzi et a!.
`6/1995 Schreiber
`4/1996 Ewing et al.
`7/1996 Pugh eta!.
`6/1997 Mekanik et a!.
`7/1997 Lee
`4/1998 Van Doorn et a!.
`7/1999 Pulizzi et a!.
`9/1999 Ewing et al.
`1111999 Hart
`12/1999 Land eta!.
`112000 McGovern
`12/2000 Truong et al.
`5/2001 Tanzer eta!.
`4/2002 Yoshida
`5/2002 Bersti s et a!.
`6/2002 Bassman et a!.
`1112002 Liu
`112003 Chang et al.
`9/2003 Chapel
`112004 Bouchier et al.
`3/2004 Ewing et al.
`5/2004 McNally eta!.
`1112004 Pereira
`1112005 Freevol eta!.
`3/2006 Ewing et al.
`5/2006 Ewing et al.
`8/2006 Ewing et al.
`10/2006 Silverstrim eta!.
`1112006 McNally eta!.
`112007 Ewing et al.
`112007 Ewing et al.
`3/2008 Anderson et a!.
`112002 Fung
`8/2002 Biondi eta!.
`9/2005 Ewing et al.
`10/2005 Ewing et al.
`2/2006 Ewing et al.
`2/2006 Ewing et al.
`4/2006 Ewing et al.
`8/2006 Grolnic eta!.
`1112006 Maskaly et a!.
`112007 Ewing et al.
`3/2007 Maskaly et a!.
`6/2007 Ewing et al.
`6/2007 Ewing et al.
`6/2007 Ewing et al.
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`"PC 5585: Voltage Selectable for 120V- or 240V -, 10, 50/60Hz Up
`to 30A," Pulizzi Engineering Inc., 3 pp. (1999).
`"Complaint for Patent Infringement," Server Technology, Inc. v.
`American Power Conversion Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-, 58
`pp. (Dec. 18, 2006).
`"First Amended Complaint for Patent Infringement," Server Technol(cid:173)
`ogy, Inc. v. American Power Conversion Corporation, Case No.
`3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 83 pp. (Feb. 20, 2007).
`"Defendant's Answer and Affirmative Defenses to Plaintiff's Com(cid:173)
`plaint for Patent Infringement; Counterclaims for Declaratory Judg(cid:173)
`ment of Patent Noninfringement and Patent Invalidity; and Patent
`Infringement," Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-(VPC), 37 pp. (Apr.
`2, 2007).
`"Defendant's First Amended Answer and Affirmative Defenses to
`Plaintiff's Complaint for Patent Infringement; Counterclaims for
`
`Declaratory Judgment of Patent Noninfringement and Patent Inval(cid:173)
`idity; and Patent Infringement," Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH(cid:173)
`(VPC), 36 pp. (Apr. 13, 2007).
`"Plaintiff Server Technology Inc.'s Reply to Defendant's First
`Amended Counterclaims for Declaratory Judgment of Patent
`Noninfringement and Patent Invalidity; and Patent Infringement,"
`Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 8 pp. (Apr. 30, 2007).
`"Server Technology's Proposed Order on Claim Construction,"
`Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conversion Corporation,
`Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 22 pp. (Dec. 05, 2008).
`"American Power Conversion Corp.'s Proposed Order on Claim
`Construction," Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conver(cid:173)
`sion Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 24 pp. (Dec.
`05, 2008).
`"Continuation of Server Technology's Reply to American Power
`Conversion Corp.'s Response to Opening Claim Construction Brief,"
`Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conversion Corporation,
`Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 94 pp. (Aug. 11, 2008).
`Systems Enhancement Corporation, "Power Administrator 800 User
`Manual," Oct. 1, 1996, Systems Enhancement Corporation, Chester(cid:173)
`field, MO, USA.
`American Power Conversion Corporation, "MasterSwitch VM
`Power Distribution Unit User Guide," Dec. 1999, American Power
`Conversion Corporation, W. Kingston, RI, USA.
`American Power Conversion Corporation, "MasterSwitch VM
`Power Distribution Unit Installation and Quick Start Manual," Dec.
`1999, American Power Conversion Corporation, W. Kingston, RI,
`USA.
`American Power Conversion Corporation, "PowerNet SNMP Man(cid:173)
`agement Information Base v3.1.0 Reference Guide," Nov. 1999,
`American Power Conversion Corporation, W. Kingston, RI, USA.
`"Server Technology, Inc.'s Fifth Amended Disclosure of Asserted
`Claims and Preliminary Infringement Contentions With Exhibits,"
`Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conversion Corporation,
`Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 30 pp. (Sep. 29, 2007).
`"American Power Conversion Corporation's Preliminary Invalidity
`Contentions," Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conver(cid:173)
`sion Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 89 pp. (Oct.
`12, 2007).
`"American Power Conversion Corporation's Preliminary Claim
`Constructions and Extrinsic Evidence (Patent Local Rule 4-2),"
`Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conversion Corporation,
`Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 8 pp. (Jan. 21, 2008).
`Plaintiff and Counterdefendent Server Technology, Inc.'s Prelimi(cid:173)
`nary Claim Constructions and Extrinsic Evidence (Patent Local Rule
`4-2), Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conversion Corpo(cid:173)
`ration, Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 7 pp. (Jan. 29, 2008).
`"Joint Claim Construction Chart and Prehearing Statement (Patent
`Rule 4.3)," Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conversion
`Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 77 pp. (Feb. 22,
`2008).
`"Plaintiff and Counterdefendent Server Technology, Inc.'s Opening
`Claim Construction Brief," Server Technology, Inc. v. American
`Power Conversion Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH(cid:173)
`VPC, 206 pp. (May 19, 2008).
`"American Power Conversion Corp.'s Response to Plaintiff and
`Counterdefendant Server Technology, Inc.'s Opening Claim Con(cid:173)
`struction Brief," Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conver(cid:173)
`sion Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 279 pp. (Jul.
`25, 2008).
`"Plaintiff and Counterdefendant Server Technology, Inc.'s Reply to
`APC's Response to STI's Opening Claim Construction Brief,"
`Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conversion Corporation,
`Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 287 pp. (Aug. 8, 2008).
`"American Power Conversion Corporation's Response to Server
`Technology's Proposed Order on Claim Construction," Server Tech(cid:173)
`nology, Inc. v. American Power Conversion Corporation, Case No.
`3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 24 pp. (Jan. 5, 2009).
`"Server Technology's Corrected Response in Opposition to APC's
`Proposed Order on Claim Construction," Server Technology, Inc. v.
`American Power Conversion Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-
`00698-LRH-VPC, 23 pp. (Jan. 8, 2009).
`
`IPR Page 2
`
`

`
`US 7,702,771 B2
`Page 3
`
`"American Power Conversion Corporation's Reply Regarding Server
`Tech. 's Proposed Order on Claim Construction," Server Technology,
`Inc. v. American Power Conversion Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-
`00698-LRH-VPC, 13 pp. (Jan. 12, 2009).
`"Server Technology's Reply to APC' s Response to Server Technolo(cid:173)
`gy's Proposed Order on Claim Construction," Server Technology,
`Inc. v. American Power Conversion Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-
`00698-LRH-VPC, 13 pp. (Jan. 12, 2009).
`"American Power Conversion Corporation's Motion for Leave to File
`a Surreply to Server Tech.'s Reply Brief on Claim Construction,"
`Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conversion Corporation,
`Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 3 pp. (Jan. 22, 2009).
`
`"Server Technology's Response in Opposition to APC's Motion to
`File a Surreply to Server Technology's Reply Brief on Claim Con(cid:173)
`struction," Server Technology, Inc. v. American Power Conversion
`Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH-VPC, 9 pp. (Feb. 7,
`2009).
`"Server Technology's Response in Opposition to APC's Proposed
`Order on Claim Construction," Server Technology, Inc. v. American
`Power Conversion Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-00698-LRH(cid:173)
`VPC, 23 pp. (Jan. 6, 2009).
`"American Power Conversion Corporation's Surreply to Server Tech.
`'s Reply Brief on Claim Construction," Server Technology, Inc. v.
`American Power Conversion Corporation, Case No. 3:06-CV-
`00698-LRH-VPC, 5 pp. (Jan. 22, 2009).
`
`IPR Page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 2010
`
`Sheet 1 of8
`
`US 7, 702,771 B2
`
`136
`
`128
`
`138
`
`130
`
`140
`
`132
`
`142
`
`134
`
`144
`
`Fig. 1
`
`r1oo
`
`102
`
`111
`112
`113
`114
`
`115
`116
`
`117
`118
`
`119
`120
`121
`122
`
`123
`124
`125
`126
`
`110
`
`IPR Page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 2010
`
`Sheet 2 of8
`
`US 7, 702,771 B2
`
`~-··-···~·-·-------······-········---·------··--~··-········-·-··
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`
`IPR Page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 2010
`
`Sheet 3 of8
`
`US 7, 702,771 B2
`
`300~
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`user
`terminal
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`IPR Page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 2010
`
`Sheet 4 of8
`
`US 7, 702,771 B2
`
`400~
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`IPR Page 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 2010
`
`Sheet 5 of8
`
`US 7, 702,771 B2
`
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`IPR Page 8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 2010
`
`Sheet 6 of8
`
`US 7, 702,771 B2
`
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`IPR Page 9
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 2010
`
`Sheet 7 of8
`
`US 7, 702,771 B2
`
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`IPR Page 10
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 2010
`
`Sheet 8 of8
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`IPR Page 11
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`

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`US 7,702,771 B2
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`1
`ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION
`DEVICE HAVING A CURRENT DISPLAY
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS
`
`2
`tion center, Server Technology has been quite successful in
`marketing power managers that can remotely report and con(cid:173)
`trol network-appliance operating power over the Internet and
`other computer data networks.
`Conventional power management equipment has either
`been mounted in the tops or bottoms of the server farm
`RETMA racks, and thus has consumed vertical mounting
`space needed by the network appliances themselves. So what
`is needed now is an alternate way of supplying AC or DC
`10 operating power to such network appliances without having
`to consume much or any RETMA rack space.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 11/243,701, filed Oct. 4, 2005, and titled VER(cid:173)
`TICAL-MOUNT ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION
`PLUGS TRIP, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 09/930,780, filed Aug. 15, 2001, issued as U.S.
`Pat. No. 7,043,543 on May 9, 2006, and titled VERTICAL(cid:173)
`MOUNT ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION PLUG(cid:173)
`STRIP, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 09/732,557, filed Dec. 8, 2000, issued as U.S.
`Pat. No. 7,099,934 on Aug. 29, 2006, and titled NETWORK- 15
`CONNECTED POWER MANAGER FOR REBOOTING
`REMOTE COMPUTER-BASED APPLIANCES, which is a
`continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`09/375,471, filed Aug. 16, 1999, issued as U.S. Pat. No.
`6,711,613 on Mar. 23, 2004, and titled REMOTE POWER
`CONTROL SYSTEM THAT VERIFIES WHICH DEVICES
`IS SHUT-DOWN BEFORE SUCH ACTION IS COMMIT(cid:173)
`TED TO, which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 08/685,436, filed on Jul. 23, 1996, issued as
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,974 on Sep. 7, 1999, and titled SYSTEM
`FORREADINGTHESTATUSANDCONTROLLINGTHE
`POWER SUPPLIES OF APPLIANCES CONNECTED TO
`COMPUTER NETWORKS, all of which are hereby incor(cid:173)
`porated herein by reference.
`
`Briefly, an electrical power distribution plugstrip embodi-
`ment of the present invention comprises a long, thin plugstrip
`body with several power outlet plugs distributed along the
`length of one face. A power input cord can be provided at one
`end, and this can supply operating power to each of the power
`20 outlet plugs through individual relay control.
`An advantage of certain embodiments of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion is that an electrical power distribution plugstrip is pro(cid:173)
`vided that frees up rackmount space for other equipment.
`Another advantage of certain embodiments of the present
`25 invention is that an electrical power distribution plugstrip is
`provided for controlling the operating power supplied to net(cid:173)
`work appliances.
`A further advantage of certain embodiments of the present
`invention is that an electrical power distribution plugstrip is
`30 provided that allows a network console operator to control the
`electrical power status of a router or other network device.
`A still further advantage of certain embodiments of the
`present invention is that an electrical power distribution plug(cid:173)
`strip is provided for reducing the need for enterprise network
`35 operators to dispatch third party maintenance vendors to
`remote equipment rooms and POP locations simply to power(cid:173)
`cycle failed network appliances.
`There are other objects and advantages of various embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present invention. They will no doubt become
`40 obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read
`the following detailed description of the preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ments which are illustrated in the various drawing figures.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`1. Technical Field
`The technical field relates generally to power management
`systems and, more particularly, to electrical power distribu(cid:173)
`tion devices and methods.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Network server "farms" and other network router equip(cid:173)
`ment have settled on the use of equipment bays in 19" stan(cid:173)
`dard RETMA racks. Many of these server and router farms
`are located at telephone company (TelCo) central equipment
`offices because they need to tie into very high bandwidth
`telephone line trunks and backbones. So each TelCo typically
`rents space on their premises to the network providers, and
`such space is tight and very expensive.
`The typical network router, server, or other appliance
`comes in a rack-mount chassis with a standard width and
`depth. Such chassis are vertically sized in whole multiples of
`vertical units (U). Each rented space in the TelCo premises
`has only so much vertical space, and so the best solution is to 50
`make best use of the vertical space by filling it with the
`network appliances and other mission-critical equipment.
`Two kinds of operating power are supplied to such network
`appliances, alternating current (AC) from an uninterruptible
`power supply (UPS) or direct from a utility, the second kind is 55
`direct current (DC) from TelCo central office battery sets.
`Prior art devices have been marketed that control such AC or
`DC power to these network appliances. For example, Server
`Technology, Inc. (Reno, Nev.) provides operating-power con(cid:173)
`trol equipment that is specialized for use in such TelCo pre(cid:173)
`mises RETMA racks. Some of these power-control devices
`can cycle the operating power on and off to individual net(cid:173)
`work appliances.
`Such cycling of operating power will force a power-on
`reset of the network appliance, and is sometimes needed 65
`when an appliance hangs or bombs. Since the network appli(cid:173)
`ance is usually located remote from the network administra-
`
`45
`
`IN THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an electrical power
`distribution plugstrip embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a power manager
`system embodiment of the present invention that incorporates
`the electrical power distribution plugstrip of FIG. 1 in a TCP/
`IP network environment;
`FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of four intelligent
`power modules in a serial-communication daisy-chain all in a
`power manager system embodiment of the present invention
`that is one embodiment of the electrical power distribution
`plugstrip of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4A is a functional block diagram of an intelligent
`power module embodiment of the present invention that is
`60 one embodiment of the electrical power distribution plugstrip
`ofFIG.1;
`FIG. 4B is a functional block diagram of another intelligent
`power module embodiment of the present invention in which
`a single power manager is able to simultaneously control four
`4-relay boards;
`FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a single intelligent
`power module that controls several loads with dry-contact
`
`IPR Page 12
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`

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`US 7,702,771 B2
`
`3
`relays and can issue an alarm to alert a user when too much
`current is being demanded by one load, or all of the loads
`together;
`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an addition to a four-port
`power module that can be used to monitor and report the load
`current being delivered through each power outlet socket;
`FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a power distribution
`unit embodiment of the present invention that allows a variety
`of personality modules to be installed for various kinds of
`control input/output communication; and
`FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a 4-port intelligent
`power module embodiment of the present invention like those
`shown in FIG. 7.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`15
`
`4
`network appliance. Preferred embodiments of the present
`invention control many such relays and their corresponding
`network appliances.
`A network management system (NMS) 202 is connected
`by a network 204 to a remote site 206. A power controller 208
`forwards operating power through a sensor 210 and relay(cid:173)
`switch 212 to a computer-based appliance 214. As many of
`the functional parts of power controller 208 as possible are
`packaged in preferred embodiments of the present invention
`10 in a package like that of the electrical power distribution
`plugstrip 100 (FIG. 1). Preliminary implementations have
`packaged the network interface components in another chas(cid:173)
`sis, e.g., one that rack-mounts in a 19" RETMA equipment
`rack at remote site 206.
`The operating power being controlled by relay 212 can be
`the traditional 110 VAC or 220 VAC power familiar to con(cid:173)
`sumers, or direct current (DC) battery power familiar to tele(cid:173)
`phone central-office "plant" employees. A network interface
`controller (NIC) 216 may be used to connect the computer-
`20 based appliance 214 to the network 204. Such would be
`especially true if the computer-based appliance 214 were a
`server, router, bridge, etc.
`The power controller 208 can be configured to operate in a
`number of different modes, and such options are selected and
`25 stored in a configuration memory. The NMS 202 may down(cid:173)
`load configurations to power controller 208, and may upload
`them for editing, archiving, and/or duplication to other power
`controllers 208 at other remote sites 206. Embodiments of the
`present invention are directed towards systems and methods
`that do such uploading, downloading, editing, archiving, and
`duplication of power manager configuration files.
`The power manager system 200 maintains the operating
`health of the computer-based appliance 214. Such computer(cid:173)
`based appliance 214 is prone to freezing or crashing where it
`is effectively dead and unresponsive. It is also some mission-
`critical assigrillent that suffers during such down time. It is
`therefore the role and purpose of the power manager 200 to
`monitor the power and environmental operating conditions in
`40 which the computer-based appliance 214 operates, and to
`afford management personnel the ability to tum the com(cid:173)
`puter-based appliance 214 on and off. Such allows a power-on
`rebooting of software in the computer-based appliance 214 to
`be forced remotely from the NMS 202. The operating condi-
`tions and environment are preferably reported to the NMS
`202 on request and when alarms occur.
`The power controller 208 further includes a network inter-
`face controller (NIC) 218, and this may be connected to a
`security device 220. If the network 204 is the Internet, or
`otherwise insecure, it is important to provide protection of a
`network agent 222 from accidental and/or malicious attacks
`that could disrupt the operation or control of the computer(cid:173)
`based appliance 214. At a minimum, the security device 220
`can be a user password mechanism. Better than that, it could
`55 include a discrete network firewall and data encryption.
`The network agent 222 interfaces to a remote power man(cid:173)
`ager 224, and it converts software commands communicated
`in the form ofTCP/IP datapackets 226 into signals the remote
`power manager can use. For example, messages can be sent
`from the NMS 202 that will cause the remote power manager
`224 to operate the relay-switch 212. In reverse, voltage, cur-
`rent, and temperature readings collected by the sensor 210 are
`collected by the remote power manager 224 and encoded by
`the network agent 222 into appropriate datapackets 226.
`65 Locally, a keyboard 228 can be used to select a variety of
`readouts on a display 230, and also to control the relay-switch
`212.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`FIG. 1 represents an electrical power distribution plugstrip
`embodiment of the present invention, and is referred to herein
`by the general reference numeral 100. The electrical power
`distribution plugstrip 100 includes a long, thin housing 102
`with one face having a user display 104 and a set of RJ-11
`control jacks 106. A power input cord 108 is provided at one
`end and has an appropriate power plug 110. For example, the
`power plug 110 is rated for 125 VAC at 30 A. A plurality of
`power outlet sockets 111-126 are provided along a single face
`of the housing 102. The user display 104 preferably provides
`a digital readout of the total input current flowing in on power
`input cord 108.
`The total input current display 104 can be used to advan-
`tage by a technician when installing or troubleshooting a
`RETMA equipment rack by watching how much current
`change is observed when each network appliance is plugged
`in and turned on. Unusually high or low currents can indicate
`particular kinds of faults to experienced technicians.
`In alternative embodiments of the present invention, each
`power outlet socket 111-126 is provided with a current-sens(cid:173)
`ing device that can measure the individual load current. Such
`measurement can then be reported locally on the user display
`104, or serially communicated out to a remote location.
`Which power outlet socket 111-126 to measure can be user
`selected by a simple pushbutton associated with each. Other
`more complex selection mechanisms can also be employed.
`A first group of power outlet sockets 111-114 are mounted
`on a first intelligent power module (I PM) 128. A second group
`of power outlet sockets 115-118 are mounted on a second
`IPM 130. A third group of power outlet sockets 119-122 are
`mounted on a third IPM 132. And a fourth group of power
`outlet sockets 123-126 are mounted on a fourth IPM 134. The 50
`user display 104 and RJ-11 control jacks 106 are mounted on
`a power distribution and user display printed circuit board
`(PCB) 144. A power transformer 146 is used to step-down
`electrical power to the logic power supply levels needed by
`the IPM's 128-134, and PCB 144.
`The manufacturing and marketing of IPM' s 128-134 can
`be greatly enhanced by making the hardware and software
`implementation of each IPM the same as the others. When a
`system that includes these IPM's is operating, it preferably
`sorts out for itself how many IPM's are connected in a group 60
`and how to organize their mutual handling of control and
`status data in and out.
`FIG. 2 represents a power manager system embodiment of
`the present invention, and is referred to herein by the general
`reference numeral 200. The electrical power distribution
`plugstrip 100 (FIG. 1) is incorporated here, but is shown
`controlling only one relay and the operating power to one
`
`45
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`IPR Page 13
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`US 7,702,771 B2
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`5
`The display 230 and keyboard 228 can be connected as a
`terminal through a serial connection to the power manager
`224. Such serial connection can have a set of intervening
`modems that allow the terminal to be remotely located. The
`display 230 and keyboard 228 can also be virtual, in the sense
`that they are both emulated by a Telnet connection over the
`network 204.
`The NMS 202 typically comprises a network interface
`controller (NIC) 232 connected to a computer platform and
`its operating system 234. Such operating system can include
`Microsoft WINDOWS-NT, or any other similar commercial
`product. Such preferably supports or includes a Telnet appli(cid:173)
`cation 236, a network browser 238, and/or an SNMP appli(cid:173)
`cation 240 with an appropriate MIB 242. A terminal emula(cid:173)
`tion program or user terminal 244 is provided so a user can 15
`manage the system 200 from a single console.
`If the computer-based appliance 214 is a conventional
`piece of network equipment, e.g., as supplied by Cisco Sys(cid:173)
`tems (San Jose, Calif.), there will usually be a great deal of
`pre-existing SNMP management software already installed,
`e.g., in NMS 202 and especially in the form ofSNMP 240. In
`such case it is usually preferable to communicate with the
`network agent 222 using SNMP protocols and procedures.
`Alternatively, the Telnet application 236 can be used to con(cid:173)
`trol the remote site 206.