IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,727,110
Granted Patent B2
US 9,727,110 · App. 13/776,420 · Granted Aug 8, 2017

Optimized power over ethernet power distribution system

Inventors: Rabah S. Hamdi (Spring, TX); Srinivasa Rao Nagalla (Austin, TX); Benny Thottakkara (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F1/28G06F1/26G06F1/266G06F1/3203G06F1/3209
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,727,110
App. No.
13/776,420
Filed
Feb 25, 2013
Granted
Aug 8, 2017
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2118
USPC
713/300
Abstract

A power distribution system includes a manager provided on a network controller and an agent provided on a line module. The manager is operable to receive a configuration for a port on the line module. A connection to the port is then detected by the agent and communicated to the manager. At least one of the manager and the agent determines that the connection is for a powered device that is operable to receive power and data through the port. The manager then classifies the powered device. If the manager determines that the classification of the powered device corresponds to the configuration of the port, the manager provides power to the powered device through the port according to an allocation for the powered device from a global power budget.

Claims (72)

1. A power distribution system, comprising: a manager provided on a network controller; and

an agent provided on a line module, wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

receive a configuration for a port on the line module; detect a connection to the port when the port has been continuously disabled from providing power in response to a system initialization and

determine, while the port is continuously disabled from providing power subsequent to the system initialization, that the connection is for a powered device that is configured to receive power and data through the port;

classify, while the port is continuously disabled from providing power subsequent to the system initialization, the powered device; and

determine, while the port is continuously disabled from providing power subsequent to the system Initialization, whether the classification of the powered device corresponds to the configuration of the port;

wherein, in response to the classification of the powered device corresponding to the configuration of the port, the port is enabled to provide power for a first time subsequent to the system initialization and power is provided to the powered device through the port according to an allocation for the powered device from a global power budget; and

wherein, in response to the classification of the powered device not corresponding to the configuration of the port, the port remains disabled from providing power subsequent to the system Initialization.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

monitor a dynamic power use by the powered device.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the monitoring includes determining that the power used by the powered device is lower than the allocation for the powered device from the global power budget, and wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

power the powered device through the port according to the dynamic power use of the powered device and return unused power to the global power budget.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

determine the global power budget.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

determine that the port is activated and, in response, add the port to an activated port list; and

determine that the port is deactivated and, in response, add the port to a deactivated port list.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

determine there is not enough power in the global power budget to power the powered device through the port; and

determine that there is a lower priority port on the line module through which power is being provided from the global power budget and, in response, cease providing power through the lower priority port and power the powered device through the port.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

determine there is enough power in the global power budget to power the powered device through the port; and

determine that there is a higher priority port on the line module though which power is not being provided from the global power budget and, in response, cease providing power to the powered device through the port and provide power through the higher priority port.

8. An information handling system (IHS), comprising:

at least one line module including a plurality of ports that are each configured to provide power and data to a powered device;

at least one processing system coupled to the at least one line module; and at least one memory system coupled to the processing system and including instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide a manager and an agent, wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

receive a configuration for each of the plurality of ports on the at least one line module;

detect a connection to a first port and a second port of the plurality of ports when the first port and the second port are continuously disabled from providing power in response to a system initialization and subsequent to the system initialization:

determine, while the first port is continuously disabled from providing power subsequent to the system initialization, that the connection to the first port is for a first powered device that is configured to receive power and data through the first port;

determine, while the second port is continuously disabled from providing power subsequent to the system initialization, that the connection to the second port is for a second powered device that is configured to receive power and data through the second port;

classify, while the first port and the second port are continuously disabled from providing power subsequent to the system initialization, the first powered device and the second powered device; and

determine, while the first port and the second port are continuously disabled from providing power subsequent to the system Initialization, whether the classification of the first powered device corresponds to the configuration for the first port and whether the classification of the second powered device corresponds to the configuration for the second port;

wherein, in response to the classification of the first powered device corresponding to the configuration for the first port, the first port is enabled to provide power for a first time subsequent to the system Initialization and power is provided to the first powered device through the first port according to an allocation for the first powered device from a global power budget;

wherein, in response to the classification of the second powered device corresponding to the configuration for the second port, the second port is enabled to provide power for a first time subsequent to the system initialization and power is provided to the second powered device through the second port according to an allocation for the second powered device from the global power budget;

wherein, in response to the classification of the first powered device not corresponding to the configuration for the first port, the first port remains disabled from providing power subsequent to the system initialization; and

wherein, in response to the classification of the second powered device not corresponding to the configuration for the second port, the second port remains disabled from providing power subsequent to the system initialization.

9. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

monitor a dynamic power use by the first powered device and the second powered device.

10. The IHS of claim 9 , wherein the monitoring includes determining that the power used by the first powered device is lower than the allocation for the first powered device from the global power budget, and wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

power the first powered device through the first port according to the dynamic power use of the first powered device and return unused power to the global power budget.

11. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

determine the global power budget.

12. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

determine that the first port and the second port are activated and, in response, add the first port and the second port to an activated port list; and

determine that the first port and the second port are deactivated and, in response, add the first port and the second port to a deactivated port list.

13. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

determine there is not enough power in the global power budget to power the first powered device through the first port; and

determine that the second port is a lower priority port than the first port through which power is being provided from the global power budget to the second powered device and, in response, cease providing power through the second port to the second powered device and power the first powered device through the first port.

14. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the manager and the agent are configured to:

determine there is enough power in the global power budget to power the first powered device through the first port; and

determine that the second port is a higher priority port through which power is not being provided to the second powered device from the global power budget and, in response, cease providing power to the first powered device through the first port and provide power through the second port to the second powered device.

15. A power distribution method, comprising:

receiving a configuration for a port on a line module;

detecting a connection to the port when the port has been continuously disabled from providing power in response to a system initialization and subsequent to the system initialization;

determining, while the port is continuously disabled subsequent to the system initialization, that the connection is for a powered device that is configured to receive power and data through the port;

classifying, while the port is continuously disabled from providing power subsequent to the system Initialization, the powered device; and

determining, while the port is continuously disabled from providing power subsequent to the system initialization, whether the classification of the powered device corresponds to the configuration of the port;

wherein, in response to the classification of the powered device corresponding to the configuration of the port, the port is enabled to provide power for a first time subsequent to the system initialization and power is provided to the powered device through the port according to an allocation for the powered device from a global power budget; and

wherein, in response to the classification of the powered device not corresponding to the configuration of the port, the port remains disabled from providing power subsequent to the system initialization.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

monitoring a dynamic power use by the powered device.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the monitoring includes determining that the power used by the powered device is lower than the allocation for the powered device from the global power budget, and the method further comprises:

powering the powered device through the port according to the dynamic power use of the powered device and returning unused power to the global power budget.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining the global power budget.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining that the port is activated and, in response, adding the port to an activated port list; and

determining that the port is deactivated and, in response, adding the port to a deactivated port list.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining whether there is enough power in the global power budget to power the powered device through the port; and

in response to determining that there is not enough power in the global power budget to power the powered device through the port, ceasing providing power through a lower priority port on the line module and powering the powered device through the port in response to determining that the lower priority port is being provided power from the global power budget; and

in response to determining that there is enough power in the global power budget to power the powered device through the port, ceasing providing power to the powered device through the port and providing power through a higher priority port on the line module in response to determining that the higher priority port is not being provided power from the global power budget.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2013
From: HAMDI, RABAH S.; NAGALLA, SRINIVASA RAO; THOTTAKKARA, BENNY
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 030876/0247 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140245031A1 · Aug 28, 2014