System and method for real time detection and correlation of devices and power outlets

1. A system for monitoring and detecting identities of electronic devices, where each of the electronic devices has a unique power up signature during its power up sequence, the system comprising:

a plurality of power outlets, each said power outlet having a specific identification designation and each one of the electronic devices being assigned to a specific one of the power outlets;

a processor configured to:

read the power up signature of a given one of the electronic devices, during a power up sequence of the given one of the electronic devices, when the given one of the electronic devices is plugged into a given one of the power outlets and is powering up; and

to use a stored power up signature for the given one of the power outlets, together with the power up signature read for the given one of the electronic devices, to determine if the given one of the electronic devices is using its said assigned power outlet.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor further includes an application that compares, in real time, the read power up signature of the given one of the electronic devices against the stored power up signature for the given one of the power outlets and determines in real time, from the comparison, if the given one of the electronic devices is using its said assigned power outlet.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor and the power outlets are contained in a power distribution unit.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a management software application in communication with the processor and configured to receive a signal from the processor when the processor detects that the given one of the electronic devices has been powered up using a different one of the power outlets than the given one of the electronic devices has been assigned to use.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a data base in communication with the management application for storing predetermined power up signatures assigned to each of the power outlets.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a switching control subsystem in communication with the power outlets and with an AC mains power source, for selectively switching AC mains power on and off relative to each one of the power outlets based on signals from the processor.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an interface for interfacing the processor to a remote subsystem.

8. A system for monitoring and detecting identities of electronic devices, where each of the electronic devices has a unique power up signature during its power up sequence, the system comprising:

a power distribution system having:

a plurality of power outlets, each said power outlet having a specific identification designation and being assigned to a specific one of the electronic devices;

a processor that reads the unique power up signature, during a power up sequence, of each one of the electronic devices when the electronic devices are initially plugged into their assigned said power outlets; and

an application that compares the read power up signature of each said electronic device against a respective stored power up signature assigned to the power outlet that each said electronic device is powered up from, and determines if each said electronic device is being powered up from its said assigned power outlet.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the power distribution system comprises a power distribution unit that receives AC power from an AC mains power source.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the application comprises firmware that is run by the processor which is adapted to compare the read power up signature of each said electronic device against the respective stored power up for the power outlet that each said electronic device is being powered up from.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the power distribution system comprises a switching control subsystem for selectively switching on and off a supply of AC mains power to each of said power outlets.

12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a management software application for communicating with the power distribution system and receiving information from the power distribution system when the power distribution system identifies that a specific one of the electronic devices is being powered up from one of the outlets that it is not assigned to use; and

a database in communication with the management software application for storing the power up signatures of each one of the electronic devices.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the power distribution system further comprises an interface for interfacing the processor to at least one external subsystem.

14. A method of detecting whether each one of a plurality of electronic devices is being powered up from an assigned one of a plurality of power outlets, the method comprising:

initially determining a power up signature for each one of the electronic devices;

storing the initially determined power up signatures in a memory;

assigning each one of the initially determined power up signatures to a specific one of the power outlets such that each said initially determined power up signature is uniquely associated with a single one of the power outlets;

when a given one of the plurality of electronic devices is plugged into a selected one of the plurality of power outlets, reading the power up signature of the given one of the plurality of electronic devices at the power outlet that the given one of the plurality of electronic devices begins drawing power from;

obtaining the initially determined power up signature assigned to the power outlet that the given one of the plurality of electronic devices is drawing power from;

comparing the obtained, initially determined power up signature to the read power up signature and determining if the given one of the plurality of electronic devices is drawing power from the power outlet that it has been assigned to use.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the operations of obtaining the initially determined power up signature and the comparing the obtained, initially determined power up signature to the read power up signature are performed in real time.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the operation of obtaining the initially determined power up signature and the operation of comparing the obtained, initially determined power up signature to the read power up signature are performed by a processor sequentially monitoring power being drawn from all of the power outlets.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the operation of obtaining initially determined power up signature and the operation of comparing the obtained, initially determined power up signature to the read power up signature are performed by an application stored in a memory, and running on a processor.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising using a switching control subsystem to controllably apply and interrupt power from an AC power source to each of the power outlets.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising communicating information to an external component when it is determined that the given one of the electronic devices is not being powered up from its said assigned power outlet.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising locating the power outlets on a power distribution unit, and performing the operation of obtaining the initially determined power up signature and the operation of comparing the obtained, initially determined power up signature to the read power up signature by using a processor disposed within the power distribution unit.