IP Library Granted Patent US 10,353,453
Granted Patent B2
US 10,353,453 · App. 14/189,360 · Granted Jul 16, 2019

Methods and systems for multiple module power regulation in a modular chassis

Inventors: Shawn Joel Dube (Austin, TX); Dan Rao (Austin, TX); Joyce Gil Metevier (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F1/3234G06F1/3203G06F1/3206G06F1/3287H05K7/1487H05K7/1492
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,353,453
App. No.
14/189,360
Granted
Jul 16, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A controller may be communicatively coupled to a power supply and may be configured to receive a status signal indicative of whether a level of power delivered by the power supply exceeds a threshold power level. The controller may also be configured to, in response to the status signal indicating the level of power delivered by the power supply exceeds the threshold power level, cause a module power limit of at least one of a plurality of modules disposed in a chassis to decrease, wherein the module power limit of a module defines a maximum amount of power the module may consume from the power supply. The controller may also be configured to, in response to the status signal indicating the level of power delivered by the power supply does not exceed the threshold power level, cause the module power limit to increase.

Claims (38)

1. A chassis comprising:

a plurality of slots including a first slot, wherein each of the plurality of slots is configured to receive a module comprising an information handling resource;

a plurality of modules, including a first module received in the first slot;

a power supply configured to deliver electrical energy to each of the plurality of modules; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the power supply and configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving a cumulative power signal, wherein the cumulative power signal is indicative of whether cumulative power consumption, comprising total power consumed by the plurality of modules, exceeds a cumulative power threshold;

responsive to detecting the cumulative power signal indicating cumulative power consumption exceeding the cumulative power threshold, decreasing a module power limit of the first module, wherein decreasing the module power limit of the first module comprises:

decreasing the module power limit of the first module at a first rate of decrease during an initial interval; and

decreasing the module power limit of the first module at a second rate of decrease during a subsequent interval following the initial interval, wherein the second rate of decrease differs from the first rate of decrease.

2. The chassis of claim 1 , wherein the second rate of decrease exceeds the first rate of decrease.

3. The chassis of claim 1 , wherein the initial interval begins when the cumulative power signal begins to indicate cumulative power consumption exceeding the cumulative power threshold and wherein the initial interval has a specific duration.

4. The chassis of claim 1 , wherein the operations include:

responsive to detecting the cumulative power signal indicating cumulative power consumption below the cumulative power threshold, increasing the module power limit of the first module.

5. The chassis of claim 1 , wherein decreasing the module power limit of the first module at a first rate of decrease during an initial interval comprises:

instantaneously decreasing the module power limit to a particular limit wherein the particular limit corresponds to a power consumption of a particular module, wherein the particular module consumes more power than any other module.

6. The chassis of claim 1 , wherein the operations include:

receiving module power consumption information, wherein the module power consumption information is indicative of power consumed by each of the plurality of modules;

identifying, from the module power consumption information, a maximum module power consumed; and

establishing the maximum module power consumed as the module power limit.

7. A method for managing power in a chassis, wherein the chassis includes a plurality of slots, including a first slot, and a plurality of modules, including a first module, and a power supply, wherein each of the plurality of slots is configured to receive one of the plurality of modules and wherein the power supply is configured to deliver electrical energy to each of the plurality of modules, wherein the method includes:

receiving a cumulative power signal, wherein the cumulative power signal is indicative of whether cumulative power consumption, comprising total power consumed by the plurality of modules, exceeds a cumulative power threshold;

responsive to detecting the cumulative power signal indicating cumulative power consumption exceeding the cumulative power threshold, decreasing a module power limit of the first module, wherein decreasing the module power limit of the first module comprises:

decreasing the module power limit of the first module at a first rate of decrease during an initial interval; and

decreasing the module power limit of the first module at a second rate of decrease during a subsequent interval following the initial interval, wherein the second rate of decrease differs from the first rate of decrease.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second rate of decrease exceeds the first rate of decrease.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the initial interval begins when the cumulative power signal begins to indicate cumulative power consumption exceeding the cumulative power threshold and wherein the initial interval has a specific duration.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

responsive to detecting the cumulative power signal indicating cumulative power consumption below the cumulative power threshold, increasing the module power limit of the first module.

11. An article of manufacture comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor in a chassis, causes the processor to perform operations, wherein the chassis includes a plurality of slots, including a first slot, and a plurality of modules, including a first module, and a power supply, and wherein each of the plurality of slots is configured to receive one of the plurality of modules and wherein the power supply is configured to deliver electrical energy to each of the plurality of modules, and wherein the operations include:

receiving a cumulative power signal, wherein the cumulative power signal is indicative of whether cumulative power consumption, comprising total power consumed by the plurality of modules, exceeds a cumulative power threshold;

responsive to detecting the cumulative power signal indicating cumulative power consumption exceeding the cumulative power threshold, decreasing a module power limit of the first module, wherein decreasing the module power limit of the first module comprises:

decreasing the module power limit of the first module at a first rate of decrease during an initial interval; and

decreasing the module power limit of the first module at a second rate of decrease during a subsequent interval following the initial interval, wherein the second rate of decrease differs from the first rate of decrease.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11 , wherein the second rate of decrease exceeds the first rate of decrease.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 11 , wherein the initial interval begins when the cumulative power signal begins to indicate cumulative power consumption exceeding the cumulative power threshold and wherein the initial interval has a specific duration.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 11 , wherein the operations include:

responsive to detecting the cumulative power signal indicating cumulative power consumption below the cumulative power threshold, increasing the module power limit of the first module.

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 REEL 032809 FRAME 0987 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040026/0953 →
RELEASE OF REEL 032810 FRAME 0038 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0686 →
RELEASE OF REEL 032810 FRAME 0023 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040014/0320 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded May 1, 2014
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032809/0987 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded May 1, 2014
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032810/0038 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded May 1, 2014
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 032810/0023 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2014
From: DUBE, SHAWN JOEL; RAO, DAN; METEVIER, JOYCE GIL
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 032295/0492 →
Continuity (1)
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