Patent Publication Number: US-2011062939-A1

Title: Controlling power usage by at least one electronic apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application shares some common subject matter with PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US09/39041 (Attorney Docket No. 200802259-1), entitled “Determining Power Topology of a Plurality of Computer Systems”, filed on Mar. 31, 2009, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Rack-mounted computer systems offer high computer density for situations utilizing multiple computer systems. In some cases, each rack-mounted computer system has one or more switching power supplies to convert alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power for use. In other cases, the rack mounted computer systems may be “blade servers,” where each blade server selectively plugs into a rack-mounted enclosure, and the blade servers within the enclosure provide DC power from switching power supplies associated with the enclosure as a whole, rather than with particular blade servers. 
     Regardless of whether computer systems are rack mounted themselves, or blade servers within a rack-mounted enclosure, for high reliability each rack-mounted computer system and/or enclosure for blade servers may have redundant power supplies coupled to different sources of AC power. In the event one source of power fails (for instance, a circuit breaker trips), the computer systems may still remain operational based on the alternate source of power. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limited in the following figure(s), in which like numerals indicate like elements, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a simplified block diagram of a system for controlling power usage by at least one electronic apparatus, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a simplified partially cross-sectional view of the cord, the integrated power and data connector of the power regulating device, and the integrated power and data connector of the electronic apparatus, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a flow diagram of a method for controlling power usage by at least one electronic apparatus, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a computer system, which may be employed to perform various functions of the controller depicted in  FIG. 1A , according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the embodiments are described by referring mainly to examples thereof. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent however, to one of ordinary skill in the art, that the embodiments may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures are not described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description of the embodiments. 
     Disclosed herein is a power regulating device configured to control power usage of as well as data communications to one or more electronic apparatuses through use of one or more integrated power and data cords. Also disclosed herein are a method and system for operating the power regulating device. In one example, the power regulating device is configured to communicate data pertaining to an impending change in the supply of power to the one or more electronic apparatuses through the one or more integrated power and data cords. Thus, instead of requiring a separate communications connection between the power regulating device and the one or more electronic apparatuses, the supply of power and the communications are conducted through one or more integrated power and data cords, thereby reducing the number of cables required between the power regulating device and the one or more electronic apparatuses. 
     With reference first to  FIG. 1A , there is shown a simplified block diagram of a system  100  for controlling power usage by at least one electronic apparatus, according to an example. It should be understood that the following description of the system  100  is but one manner of a variety of different manners in which such a system  100  may be configured. In addition, it should be understood that the system  100  may include additional components and that some of the components described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from a scope of the system  100 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1A , the system  100  includes a power regulating device  110 , an electronic apparatus  140 , and an integrated power and data cord  150 . Generally speaking, the power regulating device  110  is configured to supply power through the integrated power and data cord  150  to the electronic apparatus  140 . In addition, the power regulating device  110  is also configured to communicate data to and/or from the electronic apparatus  140  through the integrated power and data cord  150 . In addition, or alternatively, the power regulating device  110  is configured to receive data from the electronic apparatus  140  through the integrated power and data cord  150 . 
     The power regulating device  110  generally includes an enclosure  112  with an external surface, and a plurality of integrated power and data connectors  114   a - 114   c  accessible on the external surface of the enclosure  112 . Each integrated power and data connector  114   a - 114   c  defines power conductors configured to carry operational power for coupled electronic apparatuses  140 , and thus the power connectors of each electrical connector  114   a - 114   c  are coupled to the respective source of AC (or DC) power for the power regulating device  110 . In some embodiments, each source of AC power is a single phase source of AC power, and in other embodiments, each source of AC power is a three-phase source of AC power. 
     The power regulating device  110  also includes a data connector  116 , which is also accessible on the external surface of the enclosure  112 . The data connector  116  is distinguishable from the integrated power and data connectors  114   a - 114   n  in that the data connector  116  does not carry AC operational power to an electronic apparatus  140 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1A , an electronic apparatus  140  is coupled to an integrated power and data connector  114   a  of the power regulating device  110  and draws operational power through the coupled integrated power and data connector  114   a . Although not shown, the system  100  may include a plurality of electronic apparatuses  140  connected to respective integrated power and data connectors  114   a - 114   c  of the power regulating device  110 . 
     By way of particular example, the power regulating device  110  comprises a power distribution unit (PDU) and the one or more electronic apparatuses  140  comprise rack-mounted computer systems. As another particular example, the one or more electronic apparatuses  140  comprise appliances, for instance, one or more household appliances, that may benefit from the power usage control discussed herein. 
     The electronic apparatus  140  is further depicted as being connected to the integrated power and data connector  114   a  through a cord  150  having integrated operational power and data lines. As such, the cord  150  is configured to carry both operational power from the power regulating device  110  to the electronic apparatus  140  and data, either in a one-way or a two-way communication, between the power regulating device  110  and the electronic apparatus  140 . In addition, the integrated power and data connectors  114   a - 114   c  are also configured with data connections (not shown) to facilitate the data communication between the power regulating device  110  and the electronic apparatus(es)  140 . 
     Likewise, the electronic apparatus  140  is depicted as including an integrated power and data connector  142  that is configured with both data connections and power connections. As shown, the power lines from the cord  150  are connected to supply power to a processor  144  and components  146 , such as, components that consume power in their operations, of the electronic apparatus  140 . According to an example, and as discussed in greater detail hereinbelow, data communications pertaining to impending changes in the power supply to the electronic apparatus  140  as well as other types of information may take place between the power regulating device  110  and the processor  144 . In response to the receipt of these communications, the processor  124  may initiate operations to prepare the components  146  for a reduction or cessation of power supplied to the electronic apparatus  140 . In addition, or alternatively, in response to the receipt of these communications, the processor  124  determine whether to initiate these operations or to communicate a response to the power regulating device  110  that the electronic apparatus  140  is to remain in a current operating state. 
     As a further alternative, the system  100  includes a controller (not shown) that is external to the power regulating device  110  and the electronic apparatus  140  that determines when to modify the power supplied to the electronic apparatus  140  from the power regulating device  110 . In this example, the external controller may communicate instructions to the power regulating device  110  through the data connector  116 . 
     A more detailed discussion of the components contained in the power regulating device  110  and the electronic apparatus  140  is provided herein below. Initially, however, a more detailed discussion of the cord  150  and a manner in which the cord  150  may be inserted into an integrated power and data connector  114   a  of the power regulating device  110  and into the integrated power and data connector  142  of the electronic apparatus  140  are provided with respect to  FIG. 1B . 
       FIG. 1B , more particularly, shows a simplified partially cross-sectional view of the cord  150 , the integrated power and data connector  114   a  of the power regulating device  110 , and the integrated power and data connector  142  of the electronic apparatus  140 , according to an example. It should be understood that the following description of the cord  150  and the integrated power and data connectors  114   a  and  142  may include additional components and that some of the components described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from scopes of the cord  150  or the integrated power and data connectors  114   a  and  142 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the integrated power and data connector  114   a  of the power regulating device  110  includes a plurality of apertures  170  within which conductive material is exposed, and the conductive material is coupled to the source of AC power and thus define conductors configured to carry operational power. In some situations, one conductor is designated as a supply or “hot” conductor, one conductor is designated as the neutral or return, and the third conductor is designated as the safety ground. 
     The cord end  152  that is configured to engage the electrical connector  114   a  includes a plurality of blades  154  configured to fit within respective apertures  170  when the cord end  152  is plugged into the integrated power and data connector  114   a . In addition, the blades  154  are electrically coupled to power lines  156  in the cord  150 . According to some embodiments, the integrated power and data connector  114   a  and the cord end  152  are based on International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) chassis sockets and line plugs, such as IEC C20 and C19 respectively; however, other shapes and forms (for instance, IEC C13 line plug and C14 chassis sockets) may be equivalently used. In one regard, therefore, either or both of the power regulating device  110  and the electronic apparatus  140  may be compatible with conventional power cords. In instances where conventional power cords are employed, however, data may not be communicated between the power regulating device  110  and the electronic apparatus  140 . 
     The cord end  152  also includes a data conductor  158  configured to carry data signals through a data line  160  integrally formed in the cord  150 . The data conductor  158  is configured to fit within a data aperture  172  of the integrated power and data connector  114   a  when the cord end  152  is plugged into the integrated power and data connector  114   a . The data aperture  172  is configured to send and/or receive data signals to and/or from the data conductor  158 . According to an example, the data aperture  172  is configured to communicate optical signals to and/or from the data conductor  158 . In this example, the data line  160  and the data conductor  158  comprise fiber optic components, for instance, that are formed of glass or plastic. 
     The other cord end  162  of the cord  150  is configured to engage the integrated power and data connector  142  of the electronic apparatus  140 . As shown, the cord end  162  includes a plurality of apertures  180  within which conductive materials are exposed. In addition, the conductive materials are electrically coupled to the electrical lines  156  contained in the cord  150 . The conductive materials may correspond to supply or “hot” conductor, the neutral or return, and the safety ground conductors of the integrated power and data connector  114   a  of the power regulating device  110 . 
     Moreover, the integrated power and data connector  142  of the electronic apparatus  140  includes a plurality of blades  184  configured to fit within the apertures  182  of the cord end  162  when the cord end  162  is connected to the integrated power and data connector  142 . The cord end  162  and the integrated power and data connector  142  may be based on IEC C13 line plug and C14 chassis sockets; however, other line plug and socket configurations may be equivalently used without departing from a scope of the cord  150  disclosed herein. 
     The cord end  162  also includes a data receptor  182  connected to the data line  160 . In addition, the integrated power and data connector  142  includes a data conductor  186  configured to fit within the data receptor  182  when the integrated power and data connector  142  is plugged into the cord end  162 . Thus, the connection between the data conductor  186  and the data receptor  182  enables the transmission of, for instance, optical signals through the data line  160 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1B , the cord  150  includes an outer jacket  190 , which operates to protect the power lines  156  and the data line  160 . In addition, the data line  160  may be further shielded to reduce loss of optical signals communicated through the data line  160 . According to another embodiment, the power lines  156  may have a separate power jacket as compared with the data line  160 . 
     Although the integrated power and data connector  114   a  of the power regulating device  110  has been depicted as including apertures  170  and  172  and the integrated power and data connector  142  of the electronic apparatus  140  has been depicted as including blades  184  and a data conductor  186 , it should be understood that the configurations of the integrated power and data connectors  114   a  and  142  may be switched with respect to each other without departing from the scope of the system  100  disclosed herein. 
     Reference is now made back to  FIG. 1A  to describe the power regulating device  110  and the electronic apparatus  140  in greater detail. Initially, as shown therein, the power regulating device  110  is coupled to a source of AC power. The source of AC power has been depicted as a three-phase source in a “Y” configuration, however delta configurations may be equivalently used. Moreover, in some situations, a single phase AC power source may be used. The phases of the AC power couple to bus conductors  118  within the power regulating device  110 . In situations where significant power flows through the power regulating device  110 , the bus conductors may be bus bars. 
     Although  FIG. 1A  shows three integrated power and data connectors  114   a - 114   n , one for each phase of the AC power source, so as not to unduly complicate the figure; however, in other embodiments each phase of the AC power source may have many power connectors associated therewith. In any regard, each integrated power and data connector  114   a - 114   c  has conductors (for instance, conductors contained in the apertures  170  and  172  of electrical connector  114   a ) that couple to at least some of the bus conductors  118 . For example, an integrated power and data connector  114   a  may couple to the neutral bus conductor  120   a  and the first phase leg  120   b . Likewise, an integrated power and data connector  114   b  may couple to the neutral conductor  120   a  and the second phase leg  120   c . Finally, integrated power and data connector  114   c  may couple to the neutral conductor  120   a  and the third phase leg  120   d . In other embodiments where a delta configured AC source is used, the neutral conductor is omitted, and the electrical connectors connect to two of the three phases. Though not shown so as not to unduly complicate the figure, each integrated power and data connector  114   a - 114   c  likewise couples to a safety ground conductor. 
     As also shown in  FIG. 1A , the power regulating device  110  further includes a controller  122 . The controller  122  may be any suitable controller, such as a processor from the “ARM9” family of processors available from ARM, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif. The controller  122  couples to the phase legs  120   b - 120   d  of a power source and is configured to control the supply of power to each of the integrated power and data connectors  114   a - 114   c  through control of power supplied through each of the phase legs  120   b - 120   d . The controller  122  also couples to a memory  124 , which may comprise read only memory (ROM) to store boot code, as well as software that when executed turns the controller  122  into a special-purpose controller, as discussed in greater detail herein below. Further, the memory  124  may comprise random access memory (RAM) to be the working memory for the controller  122 . The controller  122  also couples to a measurement interface (I/F) device  126 , universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART)  128 , multiplexer (MUX)  130 , and a network interface  132 . Each of these components will be discussed in turn, starting with the UART  128  and the multiplexer  130 . 
     As mentioned above, the power regulating device  110  is configured to communicate with the electronic apparatus  140 , which is coupled to an integrated power and data connector  114   a , with the communication taking place over data conductors and data lines associated with the integrated power and data connector  114   a  and power cord  150 . In order to facilitate the communication, and in accordance with at least some embodiments, the controller  122  couples to the data conductors contained in the apertures  172  of each power connector by way of the multiplexer  130  and UART  128 . According to an example, the communication between the power regulating device  110  and the electronic apparatus  140  is unidirectional, either from the electronic apparatus  140  to the power regulating device  110  or vice versa. The communication may be unidirectional in instances, for example, where either or both of the power regulating device  110  and the electronic apparatus  140  has an alternative communication path, such as, the data connector  116  in the power regulating device  110 . In one regard, the unidirectional communication may reduce some costs as compared with the costs associated with bidirectional communication between the power regulating device  110  and the electronic apparatus  140 . 
     Consider, as an example, that the controller  122  first communicates with an electronic apparatus  140  coupled to and drawing operational power through the integrated power and data connector  114   a . As part of the communication, the controller  122  may communicate a unique identification (ID) to the electronic apparatus  140  and the electronic apparatus  140  communicates a unique ID back to the controller  122  to enable the controller  122  and the electronic apparatus  140  to identify each other, which may be useful in discovery and topology mapping. The unique ID may be, for instance, IEEE Station Address, a GUID, etc. In this example, the multiplexer  130  may be commanded to communicatively couple the UART  128  to the data conductors associated with the integrated power and data connector  114   a . With the multiplexer  130  so configured, the controller  122 , by way of the UART  128 , communicates with the electronic apparatus  140  coupled to the integrated power and data connector  114   a . The communications may be by way of any suitable protocol, for instance, RS232, RS485, etc. Once the controller  122  has concluded the communication with the electronic apparatus  140  coupled to the integrated power and data connector  114   a , the multiplexer  130  may be commanded to communicatively couple the UART  128  to the data conductors associated with another integrated power and data connector  114   b . Thereafter, the controller  122  may communicate with an electronic apparatus  140  coupled to the integrated power and data connector  114   b . In other embodiments, a separate UART device may be present for each integrated power and data connector  114   b , and thus the controller  122  may simultaneously communicate with multiple electronic apparatuses. 
     In addition to the ability to communicate with electronic apparatuses  140  drawing operational power, the power regulating device  110  may also comprise a plurality of current measurement devices disposed within the interior volume defined by the enclosure  112 . The current measurement devices are depicted as current transformers  134   a - 134   c . In other embodiments, different current sensing technology, for instance, Hall affect sensors, precision resistors, etc., may be equivalently used. In any regard, each of the current transformers  134   a - 134   c  couple to the measurement interface  126 . The measurement interface  126  may read the electrical current actually drawn through each integrated power and data connector  114   a - 114   c  by way of the respective current transformer  134   a - 134   c . Moreover, in some embodiments, the measurement interface  126  is also coupled to the one or more phases of the AC power source. Thus, the measurement interface  126  may be able to calculate the power drawn by each electronic apparatus  140  through respective integrated power and data connections  114   a - 114   c.    
     The controller  122  is communicatively coupled to the measurement interface  126 , and thus in addition to communicating directly with electronic apparatuses  140  drawing operational power through respective integrated power and data connectors  114   a - 114   c , the controller  122  is also able to obtain data regarding electrical current and/or electrical power drawn by each electronic apparatus  140 . Further still, the controller  122  may be programmed to identify which integrated power and data connector  114   a - 114   c  couples to which phase of the AC power source, and thus by mere communication with the electronic apparatus  140  may determine the phase through which the electronic apparatus  140  draws operational power. 
     Various electronic apparatuses  140  are known to include power measurement devices. As such, when the power regulating device  110  is connected to an electronic apparatus  140  having a current measurement device, the current measurement device of the electronic apparatus  140  may be employed to measure the amount of power that the electronic apparatus  140  is consuming. In this example, the power regulating device  110  may receive the measured power consumption level of the electronic apparatus  140  through the power cord  150 . In addition, the current measurement device may be omitted from the power regulating device  110 , thus reducing the costs associated with fabricating the power regulating device  110 . 
     In addition, the network interface  132  couples to the data connector  116  and the controller  122 . In accordance with at least some embodiments, the network interface  132  enables the controller  122  to communicate on local area networks, wide area networks, and/or the Internet in general though the data connector  116 . The network interface  132  may implement, for example, Ethernet protocol communication. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a flow diagram of a method  200  for controlling power usage by at least one electronic apparatus  140 , according to an embodiment. It should be understood that the method  200  depicted in  FIG. 2  may include additional steps and that some of the steps described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from a scope of the method  200 . 
     At step  202 , a power regulating device  110  having a plurality of integrated power and data connectors  114   a - 114   c  is provided. 
     At step  204 , the at least one electronic apparatus  140  is connected to an integrated power and data connector  114   a  of the power of regulating device  110  with an integrated power and data cord  150  having operational power lines  156  and a data line  160 . 
     At step  206 , the controller  122  of the power regulating device  110  determines whether to change power supplied to the at least one electronic apparatus  140 . The controller  122  may determine whether to change the power supplied to the at least one electronic apparatus  140  based upon a predetermined power allocation scheme. More particularly, for instance, the predetermined power allocation scheme may indicate the maximum amount of power that is to be consumed by one or more of the electronic apparatuses  140  at any given time. In this example, the controller  122  may determine that the power supplied to the electronic apparatus  140  connected to the integrated power and data connector  114   a  is to be ceased at any predetermined time in order to meet the requirements set forth in the predetermined power allocation scheme. Although a particular power allocation scheme has been discussed, it should clearly be understood that the controller  122  may implement power allocation schemes designed to achieve other types of goals. 
     For instance, the power regulating device  110  may receive a message from a utility through the data connector  116  indicating that the amount of power being supplied to the electronic apparatus  140  is to be reduced. The power regulating device  110  may also receive instructions or messages from another controller via the data connector  116  pertaining to, for instance, a recommended time of when the power regulating device  110  should provide power to the electronic apparatus  140 . More particularly, for instance, the other controller may receive pricing information on the power and may determine the recommended time based upon when the power is the least expensive. 
     In response to a determination that the power supplied to the electronic apparatus  140  is to be changed, at step  208 , data containing information pertaining to an impending change in the power supplied to the at least one electronic apparatus is communicated from the power regulating device  110  to the at least one electronic apparatus through the data line  160  in the integrated power and data cord  150 . The controller  122  may also communicate data to one or more other electronic apparatuses  140  to inform those other electronic apparatus(es) of an impending power supply change. In addition, the decision of which of the one or more electronic apparatuses to which the data is communicated may be based upon the predetermined power allocation scheme. 
     The controller  122  may also receive information from one or more electronic apparatuses and may base the determination of whether to communicate the data to the one or more electronic apparatuses upon the information received from the one or more electronic apparatuses. By way of particular example, the controller  122  may receive information pertaining to the operating levels of the components  146  in the one or more electronic apparatuses. In one example, the controller  122  may determine that power supplied to one or more of the electronic apparatuses that are consuming the least amount of power are to be ceased. In another example, the controller  122  may determine that power supplied to one or more of the electronic apparatuses that are consuming the most amount of power are to be ceased. In yet further example, the controller  122  may identify selected ones of the one or more electronic apparatuses for which power supply may be ceased to meet a target power supply level based upon the information received from the one or more electronic apparatuses. 
     According to an example, the data communicated to the at least one electronic apparatus  140  may include information indicating that the power supplied to the at least one electronic apparatus  140  will be decreased or ceased at a predefined time or after a predefined amount of time has elapsed. In addition, at step  210 , the controller  122  may reduce or cease the power supplied through the integrated power and data connector  114   a  to which the at least one electronic apparatus  140  is connected. 
     Thus, for instance, the processor  144  of the electronic apparatus  140  may perform one or more operations in preparation of the reduction or cessation in power supplied to the component(s)  146  that consume power in the electronic apparatus  140 . According to a particular example in which the electronic apparatus  140  comprises a computer system and the component(s)  146  comprises a hard drive, the processor  144  may cause applications executing on the hard drive to be stored such that data is not lost when power supplied to the electronic apparatus  140  is reduced or ceased. 
     Some or all of the operations set forth in the method  200  may be contained as one or more utilities, programs, or subprograms, in any desired computer accessible or readable medium. In addition, the method  200  may be embodied by a computer program, which may exist in a variety of forms both active and inactive. For example, it may exist as software program(s) comprised of program instructions in source code, object code, executable code or other formats. Any of the above can be embodied on a computer readable storage medium. 
     Exemplary computer readable storage devices or media include conventional computer system RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and magnetic or optical disks or tapes. Concrete examples of the foregoing include distribution of the programs on a CD ROM or via Internet download. It is therefore to be understood that any electronic device capable of executing the above-described functions may perform those functions enumerated above. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a computer system  300 , which may be employed to perform the various functions of the controller  122  described herein above with, according to an example. In this respect, the computer system  300  may be used as a platform for executing one or more of the functions described hereinabove with respect to the controller  122 . 
     The computer system  300  includes a processor  302 , which may be used to execute some or all of the steps described in the method  200 . Commands and data from the processor  302  are communicated over a communication bus  304 . The computer system  300  also includes a main memory  306 , such as a random access memory (RAM), where the program code may be executed during runtime, and a secondary memory  308 . The secondary memory  308  includes, for example, one or more hard disk drives  310  and/or a removable storage drive  312 , representing a floppy diskette drive, a magnetic tape drive, a compact disk drive, etc., where a copy of the program code for controlling power usage by at least one electronic apparatus may be stored. 
     The removable storage drive  310  reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit  314  in a well-known manner. User input and output devices may include a keyboard  316 , a mouse  318 , and a display  320 . A display adaptor  322  may interface with the communication bus  304  and the display  320  and may receive display data from the processor  302  and convert the display data into display commands for the display  320 . In addition, the processor  302  may communicate over a network, for instance, the Internet, LAN, etc., through a network adaptor  324 . 
     What has been described and illustrated herein is an embodiment along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the subject matter, which is intended to be defined by the following claims—and their equivalents—in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated.