Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120233368 | AUTOMATED PROTOCOL SELECTION FOR HOST ADAPTER CARD - A networking system includes a host adapter card including a card connector having four transceiver pairs and a mechanical connector configuration, and a controller having control logic for detecting whether a single-channel connection or a four-channel connection is made to the card connector. The controller further includes control logic for communicating over a network using a default, four-channel-protocol in response to detecting the four-channel connection or using an alternative, single-channel-protocol in response to detecting the single-channel connection. The system further includes an alternative-network compatibility device including a first connector configured for releasably mating with the card connector and a second connector having a different mechanical connector configuration than the card connector. The alternative-network compatibility device includes a transceiver lane from the first connector end to the second connector end, which transceiver lane is placed in connection with one of the four transceiver pairs when mated with the card connector. | 09-13-2012 |
20120271961 | AUTOMATED PROTOCOL SELECTION FOR HOST ADAPTER CARD - A method is disclosed, wherein a host adapter is selectively connected to a network using either a four-channel connection or a single-channel connection. Whether the four-channel connection or the single-channel connection has been made to the host adapter is automatically detected. A default four-channel protocol is automatically invoked in response to detecting the four-channel connection has been made. An alternative single-channel protocol is automatically invoked, instead, in response to detecting the single-channel connection has been made. The host adapter communicates over the network using the selected one of the default, four-channel protocol and the alternative, single-channel connection using the same host adapter. | 10-25-2012 |
20130042778 | PRINTING ON USED SHEETS OF PAPER - A method of printing on a sheet of paper comprises drawing a first sheet of paper from a first paper source into a printer having an optical scanner and a print head, scanning a first face of the first sheet to determine the presence or absence of print thereon. In response to detecting print on the first face, the print head is caused to print an obstruction on the first face. In response to detecting no print on the first face, the print head is caused to print new matter on the first face. The method enables a printer to accept used paper while eliminating confusion over which face contains the new matter. | 02-21-2013 |
20130115869 | DIRECTED SERVER RACK AIR FLOW - A user-customizable air guide comprises a duct having four side panels, an open front end, an open back end, and a flange extending from at least two of the side panels at the front end. The four side panels have a plurality of frangible links that are generally parallel and spaced apart along the rectangular duct between the front end and the back end, wherein each frangible link extends around the four side panels of the rectangular duct. The frangible links are manually breakable to customize the length of the duct extending from the open front end. | 05-09-2013 |
20140013093 | PINOUT ADJUSTMENT RESPONSIVE TO SYSTEM ORIENTATION - A unit of information technology equipment (ITE), such as a compute node or a network switch, comprises a system board in communication with network connectors that selectively connect to a network interconnect, a gravity sensor for detecting a first orientation and a second orientation of the system board, and a basic input/output system (BIOS) in communication with the gravity sensor to receive a signal identifying whether the system board is in the first or second orientation. The ITE further comprises a network ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) that inverts the pinout of transmit and receive signals in the network connectors in response to a command from the BIOS indicating that the system board is in the second orientation. A system may comprise a first ITE in a first orientation that interlocks with a second ITE in a second orientation that is inverted 180 degrees from the first orientation. | 01-09-2014 |
20140020003 | DYNAMIC BANDWIDTH REDUCTION OF TRANSMISSION STREAMS - A processor implemented method conserves bandwidth capacity by reducing the amount of bandwidth that is used in a communication channel between a content transmitting server and a content receiving client computer while streaming multimedia content. A content receiving client computer receives a multimedia streaming content from a content transmitting server. The multimedia streaming content has a video component and an audio component. In response to determining that a user of the content receiving client computer is no longer watching the video component of the multimedia streaming content, a processor generates and transmits an inattention alert to the content transmitting server. The inattention alert directs the content transmitting server to stream only the audio component of a remaining portion of the multimedia streaming content to the content receiving client computer. | 01-16-2014 |
20140029193 | COMPUTER SYSTEM COOLING USING AN EXTERNALLY-APPLIED FLUID CONDUIT - A computer system includes a rack-mountable server unit with a closed server housing. The server housing has a channel with a recessed channel wall in conductive thermal communication with a processor or other heat-generating component. An elongate conduit is received into the channel of the server housing in conductive thermal communication with an external surface of the server housing. The server is cooled by conductive fluid flow through the conduit, with no appreciable airflow through the server housing. The system may be operated in an optional burst cooling mode, wherein a volume of cooling fluid is trapped in the conduit for a period of time before being quickly released. | 01-30-2014 |
20140069680 | EXTENDABLE COMPONENT POWER CABLE - A component power cable having a pair of elongate conductive members each connected at a first end to a power distribution unit connector and at a second end to a component power supply connector, wherein the cable has sufficient resilience to impart a generally collapsed configuration to the component power cable, with the first end generally proximal to the second end. The component power cable is extendable from the collapsed configuration to an extended configuration by displacement of the first end to a position distal to the second end, wherein energy stored in the resilient cable by such displacement restores the component power cable to the collapsed configuration upon return of the first end to a position proximal the second end. The resilience may be provided by a spring element or by an elastomeric sheath. | 03-13-2014 |
20140071602 | POWER CABLE MANAGEMENT IN AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT STORAGE RACK - A computer storage rack has vertically arranged bays for receiving electrical power-consuming components, an elongate electrical power distribution unit (PDU) having power distribution sockets vertically spaced along the length of the PDU, and a hinge pivotally coupling the PDU to the rack along a vertical axis. The PDU pivots about the hinge between a position proximal to the bays and a position distal to the bays. The apparatus further comprises a component power supply cables that are resiliently extendable from a collapsed configuration to an extended configuration. Each of the component power supply cables is connected between one of the power distribution sockets and an adjacent one of the electrical power-consuming components, and each is resiliently extendable in response to pivoting the PDU to the distal position and resiliently collapsed in response to pivoting the PDU to the proximal position. | 03-13-2014 |
20140096139 | WORKLOAD MANAGEMENT CONSIDERING HARDWARE RELIABILITY - A method identifies uptime for each of a plurality of components within a cluster of nodes, and determines a reliability level for each of the plurality of components, where the reliability level of each component is determined by comparing the identified uptime for the component with mean-time-between-failure data for components of the same component type. The method also determines a priority level and a job type for a job to be scheduled. Then, at least one target component type is selected in consideration of the job type, and a target reliability level for the at least one target component type is selected in consideration of the priority level. The job is then scheduled on one of the nodes that includes a component of the at least one target component type having the target reliability level. | 04-03-2014 |
20140164794 | SEQUENTIAL POWER UP OF DEVICES IN A COMPUTING CLUSTER BASED ON RELATIVE COMMONALITY - A computer program product includes computer usable program code for: identifying a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) disposed in a rack, wherein each PDU receives power from a main power source and includes a circuit breaker; identifying a plurality of devices disposed in the rack, wherein each device receives power from one of the PDUs, and wherein the plurality of devices are selected from server nodes, network switches and external data storage devices; obtaining vital product data from a service processor in each device, wherein the vital product data identifies the device by a model identification code; and powering on, for each of the PDUs, the plurality of devices that are connected to the PDU in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the PDU, wherein the sequence powers on devices in order of ascending commonality of the model identification code. | 06-12-2014 |
20140164811 | SEQUENTIAL POWER UP OF DEVICES IN A COMPUTING CLUSTER BASED ON DEVICE FUNCTION - A computer program product includes computer usable program code embodied on a tangible computer usable storage medium for: identifying a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) disposed in a rack, wherein each PDU receives power from a main power source, and wherein each PDU includes a circuit breaker; identifying a plurality of devices disposed in the rack, wherein each device receives power from one of the PDUs, and wherein the plurality of devices are selected from server nodes, network switches and external data storage devices; and powering on, for each of the PDU, the plurality of devices that are connected to the PDU in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the PDU, wherein the sequence powers on the devices identified as network switches and external data storage devices prior to powering on the devices identified as server nodes. | 06-12-2014 |
20140164812 | SEQUENTIAL POWER UP OF DEVICES IN A COMPUTING CLUSTER BASED ON DEVICE FUNCTION - A method of powering on a plurality of devices includes identifying a plurality of power distribution units disposed in a rack, wherein each power distribution units is connected to receive power from a main power source, and wherein each power distribution unit includes a circuit breaker. The method further includes identifying a plurality of devices disposed in the rack, wherein each device is connected to receive power from one of the power distribution units, and wherein the plurality of devices are selected from server nodes, network switches and external data storage devices. For each of the power distribution units, the plurality of devices that are connected to the power distribution unit are powered on in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the power distribution unit. The sequence powers on the devices identified as network switches and external data storage devices prior to powering on the devices identified as server nodes. | 06-12-2014 |
20140164813 | SEQUENTIAL POWER UP OF DEVICES IN A COMPUTING CLUSTER BASED ON RELATIVE COMMONALITY - A method of powering on a plurality of devices includes identifying a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) disposed in a rack, wherein each PDU receives power from a main power source and includes a circuit breaker. A plurality of devices disposed in the rack are identified, wherein each device receives power from one of the PDUs, and wherein the plurality of devices are server nodes, network switches or external data storage devices. Vital product data (VPD) is obtained from a service processor in each device, wherein the VPD identifies the device by a model identification code. For each PDU, the plurality of devices connected to the PDU are powered on in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the PDU, wherein the sequence powers on devices in order of ascending commonality of the model identification code. | 06-12-2014 |
20140173156 | CABLE ADAPTER CORRELATION IN A CLUSTER - A verified cluster configuration is collected and stored by a central management entity. Servers within the cluster are connected to network cables, where each of the servers has at least one network port and memory storing a port identification code for each network port, and where each network cable has memory storing a cable identification code. For each verified connection between a network cable and a network port, the port identification code is stored in the memory of the network cable and the cable identification code is stored in the memory of the corresponding server. The data identifying each connection is stored by the central management entity and includes the port identification code for a particular network port in association with the network cable identification code for the corresponding network cable. Any miswiring of the configuration is identified by the central management entity and easily corrected by the administrator. | 06-19-2014 |
20140177736 | POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM UTILIZING DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS TO DETERMINE THE CONFIGURATION THEREOF - Three-phase electrical power is used to distribute electrical power to electronic devices in a cluster. A power distribution system includes circuit breaker panels and power distribution units for providing electrical power to the electronic devices. The electrical connections within the power distribution system form a digital communication network that communicates identification codes for the purpose of identifying each electrical connection in the power distribution system. A cluster management entity may then collect the identification codes associated with each electrical connection in order to detect the actual configuration of the power distribution system. By further knowing the load of each electronic device and their association with entities of the power distribution system, the cluster management entity may determine the load on each phase and take steps to balance the load. | 06-26-2014 |
20140177738 | DETERMINING THE CONFIGURATION OF A POWER DISTRIBUTION SYTEM - A method provides digital communication over an electrical power supply cable between a management processor in a circuit breaker panel (CBP) and a management processor in a power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the CBP has a CBP identification code (ID) and the PDU has a PDU ID. The digital communication provides the CBP management processor with the PDU ID for the PDU that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the CBP, or the digital communication provides the PDU management processor with the CBP ID for the CBP that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the PDU. The method further comprises identifying the electrical power supply cable connection by communicating first and second endpoints of the electrical power cable connection to a cluster management entity, wherein the first endpoint is identified by the CBP ID and the second endpoint is identified by the PDU ID. | 06-26-2014 |
20140181564 | DETERMINING REDUNDANCY IN A POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - A computer-implemented method identifies the path of a first power circuit to a first power supply that is connected to supply power to an electronic device, and identifies the path of a second power circuit to a second power supply that is connected to supply power to the electronic device. The method then compares the path of the first power distribution circuit with the path of the second power distribution circuit to determine a measure of redundancy in the first and second distribution paths. A measure of redundancy may then be output to a user. | 06-26-2014 |
20140240919 | TARGETED COOLING TO SPECIFIC OVERHEATING RACK-MOUNTED SERVERS - A system selectively cools a set of at least one rack-mounted server in a chassis. The system comprises: a chassis; a chassis manager; a set of at least one thermal sensor coupled to each rack-mounted server in the chassis; a cold air source; a cold air conduit coupled to the cold air source; a plurality of cold air valves coupled to the cold air conduit; and an expandable tube of flexible memory material coupled to each of the plurality of cold air valves, where the expandable tube inflates with cold air from the cold air source to expose directional holes, and thus cold air, across a specific predetermined sub-area of a particular overheating rack-mounted server in response to the chassis manager detecting that the particular overheating rack-mounted server is exceeding a predetermined temperature. | 08-28-2014 |
20140355201 | PROTECTING DEVICES AGAINST HOT AIR BACKFLOW IN A COMPUTER SYSTEM RACK HAVING A REAR DOOR HEAT EXCHANGER - A rear door heat exchanger is used to cool exhaust air as it exits a rack containing a plurality of computing devices. An air flow rate is determined for each of the plurality of computing devices within the rack, wherein each of the plurality of computing devices includes a fan drawing air through the computing device. The position of a baffle or louver is controlled to allow exhaust air to bypass the rear door heat exchanger in response to determining that the total air flow rate through the plurality of computing devices exceeds a predetermined air flow capacity threshold of the rear door heat exchanger. | 12-04-2014 |
20140360696 | DYNAMIC SURFACE AREA EXPANSION IN A REAR DOOR HEAT EXCHANGER - A rear door heat exchanger includes a door frame have opposing first and second edges, a fluid supply manifold secured along the first edge of the door frame, a fluid return manifold secured along the second edge of the door frame, a fin tube assembly including a plurality of fin tubes extending across a central region of the rear door heat exchanger and forming an air flow pathway through the fin tube assembly, and an actuator for controllably moving the fin tube assembly between retracted and extended positions. The rear door heat exchanger further comprises a plurality of supply pipe coupling assemblies and a plurality of return pipe coupling assemblies, each pipe coupling assembly providing fluid communication between one of the manifolds and one of the fin tubes. | 12-11-2014 |
20140362520 | DYNAMIC SURFACE AREA EXPANSION IN A REAR DOOR HEAT EXCHANGER - A method comprising flowing a liquid through supply pipe couplings to a fin tube assembly of an air-to-liquid heat exchanger and through the fin tube assembly to return pipe couplings, wherein the fin tube assembly forms a central air flow pathway. The method further comprises passing air through components within a rack secured to the rear door heat exchanger and through the fin tube assembly and detecting an operating condition within the rack. The method then automatically moves the fin tube assembly from a retracted position to an extended position in response to the operating condition, wherein the retracted position directs substantially all of the air to exit the rack through the central air flow pathway, and wherein the extended position allows the air to exit through the central air flow pathway and also through first and second side air flow pathways. | 12-11-2014 |
20150019851 | STATE DEPENDENT OPTIMIZATION FOR SEQUENTIAL BOOTING OF HETEROGENEOUS SYSTEMS - A method and computer program product for implementing the method, where the method comprises obtaining boot dependencies among a plurality of systems, wherein a boot dependency identifies a dependent system, a service system that provides a service to the dependent system, a provide state of the service system, and a need state of the dependent system that requires the service system to have reached the provide state. The method further comprises obtaining historical measurements of the time periods between states for each of the systems. Then, during a process of booting the plurality of systems, the method initiates boot of each dependant system at a time that is determined, based on the historical measurements, to allow the dependent system to reach the need state no earlier than the time at which the service system is determined, based on the historical measurements, to reach the provide state. | 01-15-2015 |
20150077271 | CONTROLLING VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON A ONE-WAY ROADWAY - A method controls vehicular traffic on a one-way roadway. A hardware sensor detects vehicular traffic on a roadway. A hardware traffic control device determines whether the vehicular traffic on the roadway has been moving exclusively in a first direction during a preceding period of time, such that the roadway is a one-way roadway on which current vehicular traffic is authorized to travel only in the first direction. The hardware sensor detects an errant vehicle that is traveling on the one-way roadway in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. In response to determining that the errant vehicle is traveling in the second direction on the one-way roadway, a warning signal is transmitted to vehicles, other than the errant vehicle, on the one-way roadway. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077273 | CONTROLLING VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON A ONE-WAY ROADWAY - A hardware traffic control device controls vehicular traffic on a one-way roadway. A hardware sensor detects vehicular traffic on a roadway in order to enable a hardware traffic control device to determine that the vehicular traffic on the roadway has been moving exclusively in a first direction during a preceding period of time, thus identifying the roadway as a one-way roadway in which current vehicular traffic is authorized to travel only in the first direction. The hardware sensor then detects an errant vehicle that is traveling in the opposite direction on the one-way roadway. A disabling electronic signal is then transmitted from the hardware traffic control device to disable a distracting electronic device within the errant vehicle. | 03-19-2015 |
20150085882 | REDUCTION OF ON-HOLD CALL BANDWIDTH CONSUMPTION - A computer processor determines that a call has been placed on hold. The computer processor sends a first packet to a local exchange carrier (LEC) of the calling device, wherein the first packet includes instructions to release the bandwidth of the call placed on-hold, between the LEC and a recipient of the call. The computer processor sends a second packet intermittently to the LEC, wherein the second packet maintains a connection between the calling device of the call and the LEC. The computer processor determines that a representative is available, wherein the representative is the recipient of the call, and in response to determining the representative that is available responds to the call, the computer processor sending a third packet to connect the calling device of the call to the representative that is available. | 03-26-2015 |