IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,521,780
Granted Patent B2
US 9,521,780 · App. 14/575,845 · Granted Dec 13, 2016

Regulation of airflow and performance in information handling systems after fan failure

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,521,780
App. No.
14/575,845
Granted
Dec 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fan control subsystem may control a plurality of fans in an information handling system to cool the information handling system. The fan control subsystem may determine a fan importance factor for each of the plurality of fans based on the presence and thermal priority ratings of one or more thermal components located in a respective thermal region associated with each of the plurality of fans. Upon detecting a failure of one of the plurality of fans, the fan control subsystem may regulate airflow within the information handling system based on the fan importance factors determined for the fans.

Claims (67)

1. A method for regulating airflow in an information handling system, comprising:

determining, by a fan control subsystem, a first fan importance factor of a first fan associated with a first thermal region of the information handling system, the first fan importance factor being based on a presence of a first thermal component in the first thermal region and on a first thermal priority rating indicative of a priority of cooling the first thermal component;

determining, by the fan control subsystem, a second fan importance factor of a second fan associated with a second thermal region of the information handling system, the second fan importance factor being based on a presence of a second thermal component in the second thermal region and on a second thermal priority rating indicative of a priority of cooling the second thermal component;

detecting, by the fan control subsystem, a failure of the first fan; and

regulating, by the fan control subsystem in response to detecting the failure of the first fan, airflow in the information handling system based on at least one of the first fan importance factor and the second fan importance factor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein regulating the airflow in the information handling system comprises directing a user to swap the first fan with the second fan based on the first fan importance factor and on the second fan importance factor.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining, by the fan control subsystem, a relative importance ranking associated with the first fan based on the first fan importance factor;

determining, by the fan control subsystem, a relative importance ranking associated with the second fan based on the second fan importance factor; and

directing the user to swap the first fan with the second fan based on the relative importance ranking associated with the first fan and the relative importance ranking associated with the second fan.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein regulating the airflow in the information handling system comprises automatically increasing a fan speed of the second fan by an amount based on the first fan importance factor.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the fan control subsystem, a nominal volumetric airflow associated with cooling the information handling system when the first fan and the second fan are operational;

wherein regulating the airflow in the information handling system comprises:

monitoring an actual volumetric airflow; and

automatically increasing a fan speed of the second fan by an amount based on the second fan importance factor while the actual volumetric airflow is less than the nominal volumetric airflow.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein regulating the airflow in the information handling system comprises directing that a thermal characteristic of the first thermal region be altered by at least one of:

directing a user to swap the first thermal component with the second thermal component based on the first fan importance factor and on the second fan importance factor,

directing a user to remove the first thermal component from the first thermal region based on the first fan importance factor, and

automatically decreasing a power consumption of the first thermal component based on the first fan importance factor.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information handling system comprises the fan control subsystem.

8. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a non-transitory machine-readable medium; and

instructions on the non-transitory machine-readable medium, when read by a processor, are configured to cause the processor to:

determine a first fan importance factor of a first fan associated with a first thermal region of an information handling system, the first fan importance factor being based on a presence of a first thermal component in the first thermal region and on a first thermal priority rating indicative of a priority of cooling the first thermal component;

determine a second fan importance factor of a second fan associated with a second thermal region of the information handling system, the second fan importance factor being based on a presence of a second thermal component in the second thermal region and on a second thermal priority rating indicative of a priority of cooling the second thermal component;

detect a failure of the first fan; and

in response to detecting the failure of the first fan, regulate airflow in the information handling system based on at least one of the first fan importance factor and the second fan importance factor.

9. The article of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to regulate the airflow by directing a user to swap the first fan with the second fan based on the first fan importance factor and on the second fan importance factor.

10. The article of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a relative importance ranking associated with the first fan based on the first fan importance factor;

determine a relative importance ranking associated with the second fan based on the second fan importance factor; and

direct the user to swap the first fan with the second fan based on the relative importance ranking associated with the first fan and the relative importance ranking associated with the second fan.

11. The article of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to regulate the airflow in the information handling system by automatically increasing a fan speed of the second fan by an amount determined based on the first fan importance factor.

12. The article of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a nominal volumetric airflow associated with cooling the information handling system when the first fan and the second fan are operational; and

regulate the airflow in the information handling system by:

monitoring an actual volumetric airflow, and

automatically increasing a fan speed of the second fan by an amount based on the second fan importance factor while the actual volumetric airflow is less than the nominal volumetric airflow.

13. The article of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to regulate the airflow in the information handling system by directing that a thermal characteristic of the first thermal region be altered by at least one of:

directing a user to swap the first thermal component with the second thermal component based on the first fan importance factor and on the second fan importance factor,

directing a user to remove the first thermal component from the first thermal region based on the first fan importance factor, and

automatically decreasing a power consumption of the first thermal component based on the first fan importance factor.

14. The article of claim 8 , wherein the information handling system comprises the processor.

15. An information handling system, comprising:

a first fan associated with a first thermal region of the information handling system;

a second fan associated with a second thermal region of the information handling system;

a processor; and

a non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when read and executed by the processor, are configured to cause the processor to:

determine a first fan importance factor of the first fan based on a presence of a first thermal component in the first thermal region and on a first thermal priority rating indicative of a priority of cooling the first thermal component;

determine a second fan importance factor of the second fan based on a presence of a second thermal component in the second thermal region and on a second thermal priority rating indicative of a priority of cooling the second thermal component;

detect a failure of the first fan; and

in response to detecting the failure of the first fan, regulate airflow in the information handling system based on at least one of the first fan importance factor and the second fan importance factor.

16. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to regulate the airflow by directing a user to swap the first fan with the second fan, based on the first fan importance factor and on the second fan importance factor.

17. The information handling system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a relative importance ranking associated with the first fan based on the first fan importance factor;

determine a relative importance ranking associated with the second fan based on the second fan importance factor; and

direct the user to swap the first fan with the second fan based on the relative importance ranking associated with the first fan and the relative importance ranking associated with the second fan.

18. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to regulate the airflow in the information handling system by automatically increasing a fan speed of the second fan by an amount determined based on the first fan importance factor.

19. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a nominal volumetric airflow associated with cooling the information handling system when the first fan and the second fan are operational; and

regulate the airflow in the information handling system by:

monitoring an actual volumetric airflow, and

automatically increasing a fan speed of the second fan by an amount based on the second fan importance factor while the actual volumetric airflow is less than the nominal volumetric airflow.

20. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to regulate the airflow in the information handling system by directing that a thermal characteristic of the first thermal region be altered by at least one of:

directing a user to swap the first thermal component with the second thermal component based on the first fan importance factor and on the second fan importance factor,

directing a user to remove the first thermal component from the first thermal region based on the first fan importance factor, and

automatically decreasing a power consumption of the first thermal component based on the first fan importance factor.

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: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
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: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035104 FRAME 0043 (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.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0123 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035103 FRAME 0809 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0934 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035103 FRAME 0536 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040016/0864 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Feb 26, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035104/0043 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Feb 26, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 035103/0536 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Feb 26, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035103/0809 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2014
From: RAGUPATHI, DINESH KUNNATHUR; SHABBIR, HASNAIN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 034551/0762 →