Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices monitoring system

Aspects of the invention are directed to monitoring a plurality of UPS devices coupled to a network. According to one aspect of the invention, a computer is coupled to the plurality of UPS devices through the network and monitors the states of the UPS devices by using a UPS devices monitoring icon. The UPS monitoring icon takes on various shapes depending on the status or state of one or more UPS devices being monitored and generally acts as an annunciator to the status or state. For example, the UPS monitoring icon 500 can take on one of four symbols depending on whether the UPS devices are operating normally or one or more UPS devices have been diagnosed as being in a “critical” state, a “warning” state or an “unknown” state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for monitoring a plurality of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices, and in particular to a method and an apparatus for monitoring a plurality of UPs devices in a network system.

2. Background of the Invention

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices are widely used to protect telecommunication systems, data and computing systems and other electrical systems from power failure where loss of data or signals can have a detrimental impact to the operation of the system. Generally, a UPS device contains a charging circuit that is powered by an AC power source and a rechargeable battery that is continuously charged by the charging circuit during operation. The system that is protected by the UPS device is either powered by the battery or the AC power source via the UPS device. If power failure does occur and the AC power source is interrupted during operation, the battery continues to power the system until the AC power source is able to resume supplying power, which then replenishes the battery's energy. In other instances, such as in a computer system, for example, the battery of the UPS device stores a charge that is just sufficient to operate the system until the system is able to back up its data in a volatile memory (such as random access memory) to a more stable non-volatile memory (such as a disk drive), thereby ensuring that no data is lost.

There are many instances in which an operation is performed by multiple systems requiring several UPS devices. For example, an Internet service provider may use multiple servers to provide its Internet service, wherein each server is protected by a UPS device. These servers provide for the interchange of information for numerous clients that have access to the servers. Typically, the servers are in a single location or they are dispersed in various locations. In either case, because there are numerous UPS devices involved, it is difficult to keep track of the status and state of those various UPS devices. In one known method, a service personnel is employed to make regular rounds to check on the UPS devices and correct any abnormalities. However, this method is time consuming, inefficient and further is unable to detect UPS device problems between service rounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, in a computer system coupled to a plurality of UPS devices through a network, a method of monitoring a state of the UPS devices comprises generating a UPS devices monitoring icon on a computer display, wherein the UPS devices monitoring icon has a first symbol that indicates all the UPS devices being managed by the computer system are in a normal state and causing the UPS devices monitoring icon to change to a second symbol when at least one UPS device being managed changes to an abnormal state. Other aspects of the invention will be further described in the detailed description to follow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference toFIG. 1which illustrates an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) monitoring system100comprising a network110, a computer200and a plurality of UPS devices120, wherein each UPS device120protects an electrical system. The network110can be a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) or the Internet.

The network110provides a communication link which is bi-directional between the computer200and the plurality of UPS devices120. In the context of a LAN network, communication between the computer200and the plurality of UPS devices120can be achieved using Ethernet, Token Ring or one of a number of available LAN network protocols. In the context of WAN network or the Internet, communication between the computer200and the plurality of UPS devices120can be achieved using Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP) or one of a number of available IP protocols. The electrical system can be a telecommunication system, a data processing system, a computing system or one of a number of other systems.

In one embodiment, the UPS device120communicates with the computer200through a network interface card that is contained within the UPS device120. In this instance, the UPS device120is directly coupled to the network110. In another embodiment, the UPS device is coupled to an agent via a serial bus such as RS-232 or Universal Serial Bus (USB) and is indirectly coupled to the network110via an agent. The agent communicates with the computer200through the network110and transmits the communication contents to the UPS device120through the serial bus.

The computer200will now be described in further detail with reference toFIG. 2. In one embodiment, a general purpose computer can be used such as those available from IBM based in Armonk, N.Y., Apple Computer Inc. based in Cupertino, Calif., Sun Microsystems Inc. based in Palo Alto, Calif. and a number of other companies. Usually, the general purpose computer200includes a central processing unit (CPU)202, a main memory204(usually in the form of random access memory or RAM), a read only memory or ROM206that typically includes a Basic Input Output System or BIOS), a mass storage device212such as a magnetic or optical disk drive or a non-volatile memory device such as a Flash memory, an input/output (I/O) interface214and a video controller216, all coupled together through a system bus208. A network interface card222is coupled to the I/O interface214to allow for the computer200to communicate with the network110. Further, a pointing device such as a mouse224is also coupled to the I/O interface214to allow a user to interact with the computer200. A display device such as a computer monitor218can be coupled to the video controller216, wherein the computer monitor218can display various graphic user interfaces (GUIs)400in accordance with the invention.

A GUI typically allows a user to interact with the computer without resorting to memorizing numerous data files or application program names and computer commands. Usually, the GUI provides one or more graphical symbols known as “icons” where each icon represents a file, an application program or a computer command among others. The user selects an icon by clicking on the icon using the mouse224. The user's action causes the computer200to perform an operation represented by the icon. A Windows operating system commercially available from Microsoft Inc., based in Redmond, Wash. is a typical example of a GUI driven system.

Operations of a GUI driven computer200to monitor UPS devices120in accordance with the embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference toFIGS. 3-8. In stage302, with reference toFIG. 4, a GUI400in a form of a window is displayed on the computer monitor218of the computer200(seeFIG. 2). In one embodiment, the GUI400can be the main window of the Windows operating system available from Microsoft Inc. The GUI400comprises a main screen402containing a plurality of icons404, each icon404representing an application program, an application data or a computer command, among others. The GUI400further comprises a horizontal menu bar410that is generally located at the bottom of the main screen402. The menu bar410includes a system tray412, which among other icons, contains a UPS monitoring icon500. It should be noted that the UPS monitoring icon500can be placed on the main screen402or any part of the GUI400based on design choice.

In one embodiment, the UPS monitoring icon500takes on various shapes depending on the status or state of one or more UPS devices120being managed and generally acts as an annunciator to the status or state (stage304). For example, the UPS monitoring icon500can take on one of four symbols depending on whether the UPS120devices are operating normally or one or more UPS devices120have been diagnosed as being in a “critical” state, a “warning” state or an “unknown” state. As shown inFIG. 5, if all UPS devices120are diagnosed as being normal, the UPS monitoring icon500takes on a symbol502of a green circle with a white check mark inside. Otherwise, if one or more UPS devices120are in critical state, the UPS monitoring icon500takes on a symbol504of a red circle with a white cross mark inside. However, if one or more UPS devices120are in warning state, the UPS monitoring icon500takes on a symbol506of a yellow triangle with a black exclamation mark inside. One or more UPS devices120in unknown state causes the UPS monitoring icon500to take on a symbol508of a black question mark. In one embodiment, a symbol other than a normal symbol will start flashing to draw the attention of the user. Other variations of annunciating status or state of the UPS devices120can be used. For example, instead of using different symbols, the color of the UPS monitoring icon500can change depending on the status or state of the UPS devices120.

In situations where different UPS devices120are in different states, according to one embodiment, the UPS monitoring icon500will take on the symbol502-508that is dictated by an order of priority. For example, if a UPS device120has been diagnosed as being in the critical state, and if another UPS device120has been diagnosed as being in the warning state, the UPS monitoring icon500will take on the critical symbol504if the order of priority is critical state, warning state and unknown state in the descending order. In another embodiment, the UPS monitoring icon500will alternate between the critical symbol504and the warning symbol506to indicate the different states of the UPS devices120.

In stage306, when the user becomes aware of the change in the symbol502-508of the UPS monitoring icon500, which represents an abnormal status, the user can click the UPS monitoring icon500using the mouse224to determine the status or state of the UPS devices120. With reference toFIG. 6, the user's action causes the computer200to open a dialog window600in the computer monitor218. The dialog window600comprises a main window602, a status window604, a vertical menu bar606and a horizontal status bar608. The status window604is generally located at the bottom of the main window602and the vertical menu bar606is generally located at the left side of the main window602. The horizontal status bar608is generally located at the bottom of the status window604. The main window602comprises a UPS device list612, a symbol column614and a status column616. The UPS device list contains612a list of UPS devices622currently being managed. The symbol column614is provided on the left side of the UPS device list612and contains a symbol624for each listed UPS device622representing the status or state of the UPS device120connected to the network110. In one embodiment, the symbols624in the symbol column614are similar in shape to the symbols502-508(seeFIG. 5) of the power monitoring icon500, thus as shown in the figure, the UPS devices120that are operating normally will have a symbol that is a green circle with a white check mark inside. Similarly, the UPS device120that has been diagnosed as being in warning state has a symbol with a yellow triangle with a black exclamation mark inside. For those users that require additional explanation of the symbols624, on the same row, the status column616indicates in writing the status or state of the listed UPS devices622. Thus, for those listed UPS devices622operating normally, the status column616will indicate the state with the word “Normal.” On the other hand, if a UPS device622has been diagnosed as being in the warning state, the status column616will indicate the state with the word “Warning.”

In stage308, the user can obtain further diagnostic information about a listed UPS device622by highlighting the UPS device622in the main window602. Using the mouse224, the user can point to the listed UPS device622and click a button (usually the left button) on the mouse224causing the pointed UPS device622to be highlighted. When the listed UPS device622is highlighted, the status window604displays a chronology of events654that caused the listed UPS device622to be diagnosed in a certain state. For example, if a listed UPS device622has been subjected to a power failure, the UPS device622would be placed in a warning state due to the power failure. And the status window604will list the power failure as the cause of the warning state.

In one embodiment, in addition to providing a chronology of events654leading to the listed UPS device622being diagnosed in an abnormal state, the status window604can provide recommended instructions634on how to correct the abnormal state so that the listed UPS device622can revert back to its normal state. For additional instructions or instructions that are detailed and/or complex, the status window604can provide a link644to a support Website where the user can obtain further instructions and help.

In stage310, prior to sending service personnel to inspect the suspect UPS device120, the user can obtain further analysis on the UPS device120. With its associated listed UPS device622highlighted, the user can click one of the several icons on the vertical menu bar606that provides analysis of the UPS device120. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical menu bar606contains two icons which are Power Event Analysis626and Voltage Analysis636.

With reference toFIG. 7, if the user clicks the Power Event Analysis icon626, a power event analysis window700opens in the computer monitor218. The power event analysis window700displays in graph form the power analysis702of the UPS device. A time period of the power analysis can be selected using a time period selection menu714located at a menu bar704which is generally located at the top of the power event analysis window700. From the time period selection menu714, the user can select a time period in which to review the history of power events of the UPS device. With the time period selected, the user can analyze power fluctuations within the time period in the UPS device. The power analysis displays to the user a history of the events that have occurred at the UPS device within the time period, such as the graph showing the number of power failures that have occurred702. The power analysis additionally can display graphs of information derived from the history of events that have occurred at the UPS device, for example, showing the number of blackouts that lasted longer than some predetermined length of time. Another example is graphing occurrences where the input power to the UPS device remained higher than the standard input voltage for some predetermined time, or fluctuated above the standard input voltage a predetermined number of times.

With reference toFIG. 8, if the user clicks the Voltage Analysis icon636, a voltage analysis window800opens in the computer monitor218to display in graph form the voltage analysis802of the UPS device. A time period selection menu814is also provided at the menu bar804of the voltage analysis window800in which a time period for the voltage analysis can be selected. Once the user has selected a time period, a voltage analysis graph802for the time period is generated in which the user can analyze voltage fluctuations in the UPS device.

Other features are available in the GUI driven computer200for monitoring UPS devices. Referring back toFIG. 6, at the main window602of the dialog window600, the user can obtain device configuration of a listed UPS device622. The user first highlights the UPS device622and clicks a button (usually the right button) of the mouse224. The user's action causes a floating menu609to appear on the main window602. The floating menu609contains a list of options in which the user can make a selection. When the user clicks the properties option619a device properties window900opens in the computer monitor218. With reference toFIG. 9, the device properties window900displays pertinent UPS device information such as UPS model number, serial number, manufacture date, firmware revision, the date the battery was replaced and other information.

Another feature of embodiments of the invention allows a UPS device120to be added or deleted to the UPS device list612in the main window602of the dialog window600. At the main window602, without any of the listed UPS devices622being highlighted, the user clicks a button (usually the right button) of the mouse224, which causes a device list window1000to open in the computer monitor218as shown inFIG. 10. The device list window1000has a main window1002that contains a list of UPS devices1012being managed. At the bottom of the main window1002, there are two icons1014,1016marked “add” and “remove” respectively. The user can add another UPS device by clicking the add icon1014or the user can highlight a UPS device on the UPS device list1012and click the remove icon1016, which removes the highlighted UPS device.

With reference toFIG. 11in conjunction withFIG. 2, generation of the GUIs in the GUI driven computer200and the generation of status or state information and diagnostic information will now be described. Turning toFIG. 11, a block diagram1100is shown that illustrates an interaction between an operating system1102, GUIs400, a UPS devices monitoring application program1106and the I/O interface214. In one embodiment, the operating system1102, the GUI400and UPS devices monitoring application program1106can be stored in the main memory204with portions thereof stored in the mass storage device212(seeFIG. 2). The operating system1102can be the Windows operating system available from Microsoft Inc. The UPS devices monitoring application program1106contains a sequence of computer instructions that interacts with the operating system1102which when executed by the CPU202causes the computer200(seeFIG. 2) to perform the operations as described with respect toFIGS. 3-10. As is well known the art, the operating system1102interfaces with application programs such as the UPS devices monitoring application program1106and the computer hardware as shown inFIG. 2so that I/O instructions of the UPS devices monitoring application program1106will be understood by the I/O devices of the computer200such as the mass storage device212, the I/O interface214and the video controller216.

In one embodiment, the UPS devices monitoring application program1106interacts with the network interface card222coupled to the I/O interface214via the operating system1102to communicate with the UPS devices120managed by the application program1106via the network110. The UPS devices monitoring application program1106communicates with each UPS device120managed to gather various information such as voltage thresholds, power thresholds, power failure, battery threshold, network communication status, runtime to failure, load status, temperature status, humidity status, system diagnostics and other information. For example, UPS models SMART-UPS, BACK-UPS and other models available from American Power Conversion based in West Kingston, R.I. are programmed to provide such information when interrogated for status information. The gathered information is stored in the mass storage device212of the computer200and analyzed by the UPS devices monitoring application program1106for UPS device operation abnormalities. If the application program detects abnormalities in one or more UPS devices, the application program causes the operating system to generate pertinent GUIs in the manner as described with respect toFIGS. 3-8to alert the user of the abnormalities. The operating system1102transmits the relevant GUI to the video controller216for display in the computer monitor218.

Many advantages and benefits can be obtained in the embodiments described above. A user is provided with a status-at-a-glance for all managed UPS devices. When one or more UPS devices are operating abnormally, the state of the UPS device can be readily understood through a coded icon scheme. By selecting a UPS device from the UPS device list, the user is represented with information concerning the state of the UPS device and recommended actions, if any. In addition, the user can be provided with a history of power/voltage analysis of the UPS device thereby allowing the user to understand the state of the UPS device and take the appropriate action. Other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In embodiments described above, the UPS devices monitoring application program can be implemented as hardware such as application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In embodiments described above, the computer200can be a portable handheld device with a video screen that is capable of communicating with UPS devices via LAN, Internet or wireless access protocol (WAP). In the embodiments described above, the UPS monitoring icon and its various shapes may be replaced with or supplemented with /audio tones, where a unique tone represents the critical state, warning state and unknown state. In other embodiments devices other than UPS devices may be monitored. For example, the device can be an environmental monitor device that provides information concerning temperature and/or humidity within the vicinity of the device.

Having thus described at least one illustrative embodiment of the invention, various alterations, modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended as limiting. The invention's limit is defined only in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.