IP Library Granted Patent US 9,964,935
Granted Patent B2
US 9,964,935 · App. 14/595,517 · Granted May 8, 2018

System and method for data reporting in a tile management controller

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,964,935
App. No.
14/595,517
Filed
Jan 13, 2015
Granted
May 8, 2018
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2193
USPC
700/276
Abstract

A floor tile for a data center floor a management controller, a first communication port to couple the management controller to a server rack, and a second communication port to couple the management controller to an adjacent floor tile. A method of using a data center floor tile includes receiving, by a management controller of the data center floor tile, first configuration information for a first server rack of a data center, wherein the first configuration information is received via a first communication port of the data center floor tile, and providing, from the management controller, the first configuration information to an adjacent data center floor tile, wherein the first configuration information is provided via a second communication port of the data center floor tile.

Claims (51)

1. A floor tile for a data center, the floor tile comprising:

a Power-Over-Ethernet power source,

a hardware management controller coupled to receive power from the power source;

a communication device coupled to receive power from the power source, the communication device including a first port to couple the hardware management controller to a data center management system, a second port to couple the hardware management controller to a server rack, and a third port to couple the hardware management controller to an adjacent floor tile;

wherein the hardware management controller:

receives first configuration information from the management system via the first port;

determines whether the data center floor tile is located at the first physical location of the data center;

provides the first configuration information to a server rack located at the first physical location when the data center floor tile is located at the first physical location, wherein the first configuration information is provided via the second port; and

provides the first configuration information to an adjacent data center floor tile located at the first physical location when the data center floor tile is not located at the first physical location, wherein the first configuration information is provided via the third port.

2. The floor tile of claim 1 , wherein the hardware management controller:

receives first and second configuration information from the server rack via the first port; and

compares the first configuration information to the second configuration information.

3. The floor tile of claim 2 , wherein the hardware management controller places the floor tile into an optimized operation mode in response to determining that the first configuration information matches the second configuration information.

4. The floor tile of claim 3 , wherein, when operating in the optimized operation mode, the hardware management controller directs the server rack to operate without a power limit.

5. The floor tile of claim 2 , wherein the hardware management controller places the floor tile into a safe operation mode in response to determining that the first configuration information does not match the second configuration information.

6. The floor tile of claim 5 , wherein, when operating in the safe operation mode, the hardware management controller directs the server rack to operate under a power limit threshold.

7. The floor tile of claim 1 , wherein the hardware management controller:

forms a hierarchical network with the server rack via the first port; and

forms a mesh network with the adjacent floor tile via the second port.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, by a hardware management controller of a data center floor tile, first configuration information associated with a first physical location of the data center floor, wherein the first configuration information is received via a first port of a communication device of the data center floor tile, the first port coupled to a data center management system;

determining, by the hardware management controller, whether the data center floor tile is located at the first physical location;

providing, from the hardware management controller, the first configuration information to a server rack located at the first physical location when the data center floor tile is located at the first physical location, wherein the first configuration information is provided via a second port of the communication device, the second port coupled to the server rack; and

providing, from the hardware management controller, the first configuration information to an adjacent data center floor tile located at the first physical location when the data center floor tile is not located at the first physical location, wherein the first configuration information is provided via a third port of the communication device, the third port coupled to the adjacent data center floor tile.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, by the hardware management controller, second configuration information via the first communication port; and

comparing, by the management controller, the first configuration information to the second configuration information.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

placing the floor tile into an optimized operation mode in response to determining that the first configuration information matches the second configuration information.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

directing, by the hardware management controller, the server rack to operate without a thermal limit when the floor tile is operating in the optimized operation mode.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

placing the floor tile into a safe operation mode in response to determining that the first configuration information does not match the second configuration information.

13. The floor tile of claim 12 , further comprising:

directing, by the hardware management controller, the server rack to operate under a thermal limit threshold when the floor tile is operating in the safe operation mode.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

powering the management controller via a Power-Over-Ethernet power source.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including code for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving, by a hardware management controller of a data center floor tile, first configuration information associated with a first physical location of the data center floor, wherein the first configuration information is received via a first port of a communication device of the data center floor tile, the first port coupled to a data center management system;

determining, by the hardware management controller, whether the data center floor tile is located at the first physical location;

providing, from the hardware management controller, the first configuration information to a server rack located at the first physical location when the data center floor tile is located at the first physical location, wherein the first configuration information is provided via a second port of the communication device, the second port coupled to the server rack; and

providing, from the hardware management controller, the first configuration information to an adjacent data center floor tile located at the first physical location when the data center floor tile is not located at the first physical location, wherein the first configuration information is provided via a third port of the communication device, the third port coupled to the adjacent data center floor tile.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , the method further comprising:

receiving, by the hardware management controller, second configuration information from the second server rack via the first port; and

comparing, by the hardware management controller, the first configuration information to the second configuration information.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , the method further comprising:

placing the floor tile into an optimized operation mode in response to determining that the first configuration information matches the second configuration information; and

directing, by the hardware management controller, the second server rack to utilize the second configuration information when the floor tile is operating in the optimized operation mode.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , the method further comprising:

placing the floor tile into a safe operation mode in response to determining that the first configuration information does not match the second configuration information; and

directing, by the hardware management controller, the server rack to lock its wheels when the floor tile is operating in the safe operation mode.

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 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 (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 (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 (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
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ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2015
From: MASUYAMA, JINSAKU; AHMED, SYED S.; PALMER, JOHN R.
To: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
Reel/Frame 034762/0660 →