IP Library Granted Patent US 8,972,753
Granted Patent B2
US 8,972,753 · App. 13/372,539 · Granted Mar 3, 2015

Determining suitability for disconnection from power outlet of a power distribution unit based on status of power supplies of a hardware device

Inventors: John C. Hilburn (Austin, TX); Jeffrey J. Smith (Raleigh, NC); Marshall S. Stanley (Durham, NC); David T. Windell (Raleigh, NC)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G06F1/3203G06F1/26G06F1/3296
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,972,753
App. No.
13/372,539
Granted
Mar 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A programmable logic circuit assigns a value to an outlet of a power distribution unit (PDU) that comprises a power source at an input of the PDU and at least one light-emitting diode (LED) associated with the outlet. The programmable logic circuit sends the value to a program on a hardware device that comprises one or more power supplies. The programmable logic circuit receives information from the program. Subsequently, an illumination state of the LED is modified based on the information.

Claims (37)

1. A method for determining a power cable is suitable for disconnection from an outlet of a power distribution unit, the method comprising:

assigning, by a programmable logic circuit, a first value to an outlet of a power distribution unit (PDU), the outlet located in close proximity to an indicator, the first value including a first identifier identifying a first PDU and a first name representing a first power source;

sending, by the programmable logic circuit and through a communication network, the first value to a program on a hardware device that comprises one or more power supplies and is powered by the outlet;

receiving, by the programmable logic circuit and through the communication network, information from the hardware device related to the status of the one, or more, power supplies coupled to the outlet; and

modifying an indication state of the indicator based, at least in part, on the information.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning the first value comprises utilizing a switch to select the first value.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the switch is a dual-in-line package (DIP) switch having selectors that toggle to select the first value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hardware device is deployed to accomplish a specific task within an infrastructure in which essential resources such as processing power, storage, and network bandwidth can be allocated as needed.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information includes the following: any outlets connected to the hardware device via the one or more power supplies, whether the hardware device is powered on, whether the hardware device is powered off, whether the hardware device is receiving electrical power via the one or more power supplies from at least two different power sources, each power source associated with a corresponding name, any outlets that are connected to the one or more power supplies that are non-functional, and any outlets that are connected to the one or more power supplies that are functional.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the indication state of the indicator based, at least in part, on the information comprises:

determining the hardware device is powered on and is receiving electrical power, via the one or more power supplies, from at least two different power sources, including the first power source represented by the first name and a second power source represented by a second name, and activating the indicator.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the indication state of the indicator based, at least in part, on the information comprises:

determining the hardware device is powered off, and deactivating the indicator.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the indication state of the indicator based, at least in part, on the information comprises:

determining the hardware device is powered on and the outlet is connected to one of the one or more power supplies that are non-functional, and deactivating the indicator.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the indication state of the indicator based, at least in part, on the information comprises:

determining the hardware device is powered on and is not receiving electrical power, via the one or more power supplies, from at least two different power sources, including the first power source represented by the first name and a second power source represented by a second name, and blinking the indicator.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending, by the programmable logic circuit and through the communication network, the first value to the program on the hardware device comprises:

sending a unique ID associated with the outlet in which the unique ID allows the outlet to be individually identified by the program on the hardware device.

11. A computer program product for determining a power cable is suitable for disconnection from an outlet of a power distribution unit comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage device and program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage device, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to assign, by a programmable logic circuit, a first value to an outlet of a power distribution unit (PDU), the outlet located in close proximity to an indicator, the first value including a first identifier identifying a first PDU and a first name representing a first power source;

program instructions to send, by the programmable logic circuit and through a communication network, the first value to a program on a hardware device that comprises one or more power supplies and is powered by the outlet;

program instructions to receive, by the programmable logic circuit and through the communication network, information from the hardware device related to the status of the one, or more, power supplies coupled to the outlet; and

program instructions to modify an indication state of the indicator based, at least in part, on the information.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions to assign the first value comprises utilizing a switch to select the first value.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the switch is a dual-in-line package (DIP) switch having selectors that toggle to select the first value.

14. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the hardware device is deployed to accomplish a specific task within an infrastructure in which essential resources such as processing power, storage, and network bandwidth can be allocated as needed.

15. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the information includes the following: any outlets connected to the hardware device via the one or more power supplies, whether the hardware device is powered on, whether the hardware device is powered off, whether the hardware device is receiving electrical power via the one or more power supplies from at least two different power sources, each power source associated with a corresponding name, any outlets that are connected to the one or more power supplies that are non-functional, and any outlets that are connected to the one or more power supplies that are functional.

16. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions to modify the indication state of the indicator based, at least in part, on the information comprises determining the hardware device is powered on and is receiving electrical power, via the one or more power supplies, from at least two different power sources, including the first power source represented by the first name and a second power source represented by a second name, and activating the indicator.

17. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions to modify the indication state of the indicator based, at least in part, on the information comprises determining the hardware device is powered off, and deactivating the indicator.

18. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions to modify the indication state of the indicator based, at least in part, on the information includes:

program instructions to determine the hardware device is powered on and the outlet is connected to one of the one or more power supplies that are non-functional, and deactivating the indicator.

19. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions to modify the indication state of the indicator based, at least in part, on the information includes:

program instructions to determine the hardware device is powered on and is not receiving electrical power, via the one or more power supplies, from at least two different power sources, including the first power source represented by the first name and a second power source represented by a second name, and blinking the indicator.

20. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions to send, by the programmable logic circuit and through the communication network, the first value to the program on the hardware device includes:

program instructions to send a unique ID associated with the outlet in which the unique ID allows the outlet to be individually identified by the program on the hardware device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2012
From: HILBURN, JOHN C.; SMITH, JEFFREY J.; STANLEY, MARSHALL S.; WINDELL, DAVID T.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027697/0889 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130212419A1 · Aug 15, 2013