Mobile computing cabinet for a data center that is configured to maintain operation of a computing device during movement of a rack portion of the cabinet

Abstract

A mobile computing cabinet may maintain operation of a computing device during movement of a rack portion of the cabinet with a rack portion and a tethered portion. The rack portion may house a computing device. The tethered portion may connect the computing device to an electrical source and to a data source. The rack portion may have a mobility portion that may support the rack portion on a portion of a floor surface and to allow movement of the rack portion relative to the floor surface portion in a first direction and / or in a second direction that may be different from, or orthogonal to, the first direction. The tethered portion may provide the computing device with electrical power from the electrical source and data from the data source while the rack portion may be moved two-dimensionally so as to maintain operation of the computing during movement of a rack portion.

Description

MOBILE COMPUTING CABINET FOR A DATA CENTER THAT IS CONFIGURED TO MAINTAIN OPERATION OF A COMPUTING DEVICE DURING MOVEMENT OF A RACK PORTION OF THE CABINETCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 724,004, filed November 22, 2024, which is currently pending, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure is directed to a mobile data storage cabinet and, more particularly, to a mobile computing cabinet configured to maintain operation of a computing device during movement of a rack portion of the cabinet.BACKGROUND

[0003] As computing technology and telecommunications systems evolve and advance, greater volumes of users generate, store, transmit, and otherwise consume data. The sophistication of computing devices, such as smartphones, laptops, and tablet computers, has provided more processing power at the fingertips of users, but has pushed the storage of data, particularly legacy, archive, and cold data as well as the training, and operation of artificial intelligence (Al) models, to remote storage sites, which may be generally characterized as data centers.

[0004] While the storage of data remotely from where the data is generated, executed, or viewed may provide less, on-site memory requirements, localizing the storage of relatively large volumes of data in a single data center may pose operational challenges. For instance, cooling the temperature of numerous operating data storage devices may be difficult as weather conditions change over time. To accommodatecooling of volumes of data storage devices, physical space in a data center may be deliberately left empty, which results in relatively inefficient use of floor space or area in data center facilities.

[0005] With open floor space available in many data centers, strategies have generally been presented in temporarily occupying the floor space with computing components that add to the capabilities of the data center. However, mobile computing components with wired signal pathways may be difficult to reliably move within a data center. Hence, assorted embodiments are directed to mobile computing cabinets that may be strategically relocated within a data center facility to enhance the capabilities of the data center without increasing risk of operational errors and failures.

[0006] Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a mobile computing cabinet for enhancing cabinet-to-floor area density that is configured to maintain operation of the computing device during movement of the rack portion in the first direction and the second direction.SUMMARY

[0007] Embodiments provide a mobile computing cabinet that includes a tethered portion physically supporting a fiber optic data cable to allow movement of a housing portion while maintaining the fiber optic data cable within a predetermined bending to enhance cabinet-to-floor area density.

[0008] In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a mobile computing cabinet may be configured to maintain operation of a computing device during movement of a rack portion of the cabinet with a rack portion and a tethered portion. The rack portion may receive a computing device. The tethered portion may connect the computing device to an electrical source and to a data source. The rack portion may have a mobility portion that supports the rack portion on a portion of a floor surface. The mobility portion may allow movement of the rack portion in a first direction relative to the floor surface portion. The mobility portion may allow movement of the rack portion in a second direction relative to the floor surface portion. The first direction may be orthogonal to the first direction. Thetethered portion may have a data pathway portion that may provide a fiber optic cable to the computing device. The tethered portion may be positioned at a height above the rack portion. The tethered portion may have a guide portion that may prevent bending of the fiber optic cable beyond a predetermined threshold during movement of the rack portion in the first direction and the second direction. The tethered portion may provide the computing device with electrical power from the electrical source and data from the data source while the rack portion is moved in the first direction and the second direction so as to maintain operation of the computing device during movement of the rack portion in the first direction and the second direction.

[0009] Some embodiments of a mobile computing cabinet may maintain operation of a computing device during movement of a rack portion of the cabinet. The rack portion may receive a computing device. A tethered portion may connect the rack portion to an electrical source and to a data source. The rack portion may have a mobility portion that may support the rack portion on a portion of a floor surface. The mobility may allow two- dimensional movement of the rack portion relative to the floor surface portion. The tethered portion may have a fiber optic cable that may optically couple the data source with the computing device. The tethered portion may provide the computing device with electrical power from the electrical source and data from the data source while the rack portion is moved two-dimensionally so as to maintain operation of the computing during movement of a rack portion.

[0010] A mobile computing cabinet, in some embodiments, A mobile computing cabinet may maintain operation of a computing device during movement of a rack portion of the cabinet with a rack portion and a tethered portion. The rack portion may house a computing device. The tethered portion may connect the computing device to an electrical source and to a data source. The rack portion may have a mobility portion that may support the rack portion on a portion of a floor surface and to allow movement of the rack portion relative to the floor surface portion in a first direction and / or in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The tethered portion may provide the computing device with electrical power from the electrical source and data from the data source while therack portion is moved two-dimensionally so as to maintain operation of the computing during movement of a rack portion.

[0011] Some aspects of a mobile computing cabinet may have the predetermined threshold corresponding with an operational bend limit for the at least one fiber optic cable. Other aspects of a mobile computing cabinet may have the tethered portion is structurally configured to provide a plurality of fiber optic cables to the rack portion. In some aspects of a mobile computing cabinet may arrange the guide portion with a plurality of guide portions that may move in response to movement of the rack portion in the first direction and / or the second direction. Embodiments of the guide portion may have a plurality of guide portions that may remain stationary in response to movement of the rack portion.

[0012] A mobile computing cabinet, in some embodiments, may have the tethered portion with a bus portion electrically coupled to a mast portion. Embodiments of the mobile computing cabinet may have the mast portion and bus portion each positioned above the rack portion. Some aspects of the mobile computing cabinet may have the mast portion that may slide along the bus portion to maintain contact of the computing device with the electrical source and the data source. Other aspects of a mobile computing cabinet may have the bus portion continuously extending along a first direction. Some embodiments of the mobile computing cabinet may have the bus portion continuously extending along a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction. Embodiments of the mobile computing cabinet may configure the mast portion to provide a plurality of fiber optic cables to the rack portion.

[0013] Some embodiments of a mobile computing cabinet may configure the rack portion as a part of a first row portion that may have a plurality of separate rack portions. The mobile computing cabinet, in some embodiments, may have a second row portion that may have a plurality of separate rack portions with the first row portion configured to be separated from the first row by an aisle portion. Embodiments of a mobile computing cabinet may arrange the first direction as orthogonal to the first row portion and the second direction as parallel to the first row portion. Some aspects of a mobile computingcabinet may configure the mobility portion and the tether portion to allow operation of the computing device when the rack portion is positioned in the aisle portion. Other aspects of the mobile computing cabinet may configure the tethered portion to continuously provide the connection to the electrical source and the data pathway during two- dimensional movement of the rack portion on a floor surface portion. In some embodiments of the mobile computing cabinet, the tethered portion may be positioned above the rack portion, on an opposite side of the rack portion from a mobility portion. A mobile computing cabinet, in some embodiments, may be configured so that the rack portion is moved in the second direction in response to a frequency of access to the computing device falling below a predetermined threshold.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Further advantages and features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block representation of aspects of a distributed network environment in which assorted embodiments can be practiced.

[0016] FIG. 2 displays a block representation of portions of a data center in which embodiments of a mobile computing cabinet may be employed.

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a line representation of a computing cabinet that may be utilized in the data center of FIG. 2 as part of a distributed network environment.

[0018] FIG. 4 conveys top view block representation of aspects of a data center in which assorted embodiments of a mobile computing cabinet may be practiced.

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a line representation of portions of a data center employing aspects of a mobile computing cabinet in accordance with some embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a line representation of aspects of a mobile computing cabinet configured and operated in accordance with various embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 7 displays a line representation of portions of a mobile computing cabinet functioning in accordance with assorted embodiments of this disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 8 illustrates a block representation of a cabinet system that maybe generated, maintained, and executed in a data center in some embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Generally, embodiments are directed to computing cabinet that is mobile within space, such as, for example, a data center, while remaining operational as well as providing a functioning computing cabinet that may be manually moved, or automated, to maximize the floor space utilization within a data center without terminating computing capabilities of the computing cabinet.

[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments and methods of the present disclosure, which constitute the best modes of practicing the present disclosure presently known to the inventors. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for any aspect of the present disclosure and / or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0025] It is also to be understood that this present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and / or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0026] Modern mass computing sites often house computing components in stationary racks, or cabinets, that are hard wired to provide sufficient electrical power and data bandwidth to operate the assorted components at desired operational performance.However, the stationary nature of such computing configurations may provide reliable operation, but may be inefficient with respect to the overall amount of floor space, and usable volume, within a data center site. For these reasons, various embodiments are generally directed to a computing cabinet that may be moved at will while retaining reliable operation.

[0027] FIG. 1 conveys a block representation of a distributed computing network 100 in which assorted embodiments may be practiced. Any number, and type, of data sources 110 may be input (IN) into a computing system 120 to be stored, processed, and / or translated into any number of outputs (OUT) that service connected data destinations 130. It is contemplated that the destination devices 130 may provide input data and data sources 110 may receive data, which may be characterized as two-way data communication through the computing system 120.

[0028] While not required or limiting, the computing system 120 may have a variety of different computing capabilities provided by one or more computing devices. For instance, the computing system 120 may provide data storage via volatile and / or nonvolatile memories 122, processing via a microcontroller 124 or other programmable circuitry, and connectivity via a switch, server, or other signal distribution hardware 126. The computing system 120 may, in some embodiments, have numerous matching, or dissimilar, hardware that provides redundant and / or concurrent computing capabilities.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a block representation of a data center 200 that may be a part of the distributed computing network 100 of FIG. 1. In accordance with various embodiments, a single site 210, which may have one or more buildings or facilities, houses a number of computing systems 120 that conduct various computing activities, such as data storage, processing, encryption, and distribution, as directed by a processing unit 220. The assorted computing systems 120 may operate individually, concurrently, or sequentially to translate input data streams 230 into output data streams 240.

[0030] As shown, but not required, the respective data streams 230 / 240 may be connected to the assorted computing systems 120 by distribution components 250, such as multiplexers, servers, switches, splitters, reducers, adapters, connectors, or otherhardware. The computing systems 120, in some embodiments, may have local processing 260, such as microprocessors or other programmable circuitry, that operates with local data storage, such as volatile and / or non-volatile magnetic, or solid-state, memory. Likewise, the processing unit 220 may have circuitry and hardware that provides various computing capabilities, such as data storage, encryption, and distribution. It is noted that the processing unit 220 may be physically positioned on site 210, as shown in FIG. 2, or remotely from the computing systems 120 to provide higher level data distribution and operations while the computing systems 120 conduct finer resolution data operations, as directed by the processing unit 220.

[0031] The aggregation of computing systems 120 in a single site 210 allows for efficiency of scale while reducing maintenance delays. That is, positioning computing systems 120 in a single site 210 allows technicians to efficiently monitor, repair, and replace aspects of the data center 200. In contrast, separating the computing systems 120 in different locations, such as different cities, states, countries, or continents, may present varying, and different, operational speeds, connection latencies, and availability for a technician to repair / replace needed components over time. Hence, a data center 200 may provide robust computing capabilities along with efficient service and maintenance.

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates a line representation of a computing cabinet 300 arranged in accordance with various embodiments and capable of being utilized in the data center 200 of FIG. 2 as part of a distributed computing network, such as computing network 100 of FIG. 1. The computing cabinet 300 employs a rigid rack portion 310 that provides a number of vertically stacked slots 312 in which a computing enclosure portion 320 may reside and operate. The rack portion 310, in some embodiments, has structural accommodations for electrical power and data cabling distribution to service the various enclosure portions 320.

[0033] An enclosure portion 320 may be mounted within the rack portion 310 in a variety of manners, such as via sliding rails, pivots, or dampening suspensions. When partially, or completely, removed from a rack portion slot 312, an enclosure portion 320may be inspected, monitored, repaired, and modified. It is noted that some, or all, of the computing aspects of an enclosure portion 320 may remain operational while the enclosure portion 320 is moved relative to the rack portion 310. The enclosure portion 320 may have a housing portion 322 that physically supports and protects constituent computing components and ancillary devices.

[0034] While an enclosure portion 320 is not limited to a particular component configuration, some embodiments mount numerous data storage arrays 324 in position to be connected to a local processing unit 326, such as, for example, a computing device, which may be cooled by one or more cooling portions 328, such as fans, heatsinks, and vents. It is contemplated that aspects of the enclosure portion 320 may articulate or be movable without removing, or deactivating, the component being moved. With the various enclosure portions 320 in a rack portion 310, relatively large volumes of computing capabilities may be provided and serviced.

[0035] The aggregation of numerous rack portions 310 in a single data center site may further provide volumes computing capabilities. FIG. 4 is a top view line representation of aspects of a data center 400 that is configured in accordance with various embodiments to utilize multiple rack portions positioned on a floor portion 410 organized into rows 420 separated by aisles 430. The respective rows 420 each consist of multiple rigid rack portions that vertically stack and support multiple separate computing enclosures, similar to the rack portion 310 and enclosures 320 of FIG. 3. It is noted that the assorted enclosures 412 of the respective rack portions of the respective rows 420 may be individually moved and accessed, as indicated by segmented lines, while the enclosures 412, and constituent computing devices, are active and collectively operate to provide computing capabilities, such as data processing and / or data storage capacity.

[0036] From the top view of FIG. 4, the proportionate volume of floor space (or area) that is open in the aisles 430 is roughly comparable to the volume of floor space occupied by the rows 420 of rack portions. Although the open floor space in the data center 400 may provide ingress / egress to the assorted enclosures 412 as well as air channels for cooling air to dissipate heat generated by computing devices of the respective enclosures412, it is contemplated that some of the unused floor space may be occupied, temporarily, by a rack portion. That is, a capability to locate an enclosure 412 in an aisle 430 may provide a more efficient use of the floor space of the data center 400. However, temporary positioning of a rack portion, or single enclosure, in an aisle 430 may pose a variety of operational challenges, such as access to fixed rows 420, cooling of operating computing devices, and providing reliable data and electrical power to the aisles 430.

[0037] Accordingly, various embodiments are generally directed to a mobile computing cabinet that may be employed in a data center 400 to utilize open floor space in an intelligent manner that allows access to fixed enclosures 412 and convective cooling sufficient for maximum operational performance from the assorted computing devices housed in the data center enclosures 412. FIG. 5 illustrates a side view line representation of aspects of a data center 500 employing a mobile computing cabinet 510 in accordance with assorted embodiments. The mobile computing cabinet 510 may be structurally configured with a rigid housing portion 512 that supports a mobility portion 514, such as wheels, tracks, slides, or rails, as well as one or more computing enclosures 516.

[0038] The housing portion 512 may be any size, shape, and material construction, but, in some embodiments, may be arranged to fit in an aisle 430 between two rows 420 of fixed rack portions 520. The respective rows 420 may be serviced by electrical and data cabling 530 that may remain stationary once initially installed. Yet, the mobile computing cabinet 510 may not efficiently utilize such stationary cabling 530 while moving about the data center 500. In other words, in order to be mobile, the computing cabinet 510 needs alternate data and power cabling that allows operation in a variety of locations about the data center. It is noted that the mobile computing cabinet 510 may be installed, and subsequently uninstalled, at each operational position in an aisle 430, but such activity would be highly inefficient and prone to installation errors that jeopardize the operational performance of the constituent computing devices in the computing cabinet 510.

[0039] In an effort to allow the mobile computing cabinet 510 to be operational in a variety of different locations along data center aisles 430, a tethered portion 540 mayprovide wired data and electrical power cables to multiple different locations in the respective aisles 430. It is contemplated that the tethered portion 540 may include cooling capabilities, such as air, water, or other coolant supply lines. As a comparison to wireless data transmission that may not have the bandwidth and reliability to support maximum operational performance of the computing devices contained in the housing portion 512, the tethered portion 540 provides at least one electrical power cable and at least one fiber optic data cable, for example, with operational characteristics that support ample computing performance capabilities for the computing devices of the mobile computing cabinet 510.

[0040] In accordance with some embodiments, data cabling could be electrical or optical. However, either data cabling option may have issues with cable articulation degrading cable integrity over time. Yet, fiber optic cabling may experience issues faster, and with greater severity, than electrical cabling.

[0041] The use of fiber optic data cables as part of the tethered portion 540 may allow for full, reliable performance of the computing capabilities of the mobile computing cabinet 510, but may impose physical restrictions on the tethered portion 540 in the form of bending limitations. That is, fiber optic data cables may provide sufficient data transmission characteristics to support the computing devices of the computing cabinet 510, but may be damaged, or suffer degraded reliability and / or performance, if the cable physically bends beyond a predetermined range of motion. Accordingly, embodiments of the tethered portion 540 are directed at providing electrical power and fiber optic data cabling to a variety of different locations within the data center 500 with minimal risk of bending the fiber optic cable beyond a predetermined physical threshold.

[0042] FIG. 6 illustrates a line representation of aspects of a mobile computing cabinet environment 600 that may be employed in a data center, such as the data centers 400 / 500 of FIGS. 3-5. In accordance with various embodiments, a computing cabinet housing portion 610 may be structurally arranged to allow for manual, or automated, movement, such as along a floor, stairs, slope, or rail. The housing portion 610 may physically support and protect any number of computing enclosure portions 620 that maycontain any number, and type, of computing components, such as data storage, processing, and cooling devices. It is contemplated, but not required, that the enclosure portions 620 may be individually accessed, removed, and manipulated, such as by slides, rails, or pivots incorporated into the housing portion 610.

[0043] As generally shown by the tethered portion 540 of FIG. 5, electrical power and data cables may be provided to a mobile computing cabinet environment 600. The tethered portion 630 of FIG. 6 may be structurally configured to provide at least an electrical power cable 632 and a fiber optic data cable 634 to the housing portion 610. The tethered portion 630 may be arranged, in accordance with various embodiments, continuously, and loosely, extends to the housing portion 610 in a manner that allows movement of the cabinet environment 600 without bending the fiber optic cable 634 beyond a predetermined range of movement.

[0044] While not required or limiting, the loose cables 632 / 634 of the tethered portion 630 may be hung over the cabinet housing portion 610, which may coincide and align with an aisle between fixed racks of computing enclosures. In comparison to fixed cabling that remains stationary over time, the suspended configuration of the tethered portion 630 allows at least the fiber optic cable 634 to move in response to motion of the cabinet housing portion 610 without bending past a predetermined threshold. By loosely attaching selected portions of cable 632 / 634 over an aisle, and cabinet housing portion 610, the cables 632 / 634 may extend, and retract, in response to cabinet housing 610 motion while remaining operational due to the physical position of the cables 632 / 634 remaining within a predetermined bending range.

[0045] Some embodiments of the tethered portion 630 provide fixed guide portions 636 through which the cables 632 / 634 extend to provide a loose suspension. In such a configuration, the cables 632 / 634 may collect, and conversely expand, while the fixed guide portions 636 remain in place along a surface, such as, for example, a ceiling or rafter. Other embodiments allow the guide portions 636 to move, rotate, and / or tilt along a to accommodate cable 632 / 634 motion without jeopardizing a cable bend beyond predetermined thresholds. The respective guide portions 636 may further be structurallyconfigured with projections, grooves, and other physical supports that may be fixed, or dynamic, to ensure cable 632 / 634 motion does not exceed a predetermined bending range defined by bending threshold limits, particularly during cabinet housing 610 motion.

[0046] By positioning the tethered portion 630 overhead and along the respective aisles of a data center, the physical access and cooling capabilities of adjacent fixed racks of computing enclosures may be retained despite movement of the cabinet housing portion 610. However, the loosely attached cables 632 / 634 of the tethered portion 630 may present operational challenges over time as cables 632 / 634 move, twist, and rub with respect to each other and the assorted guide portions 636. Accordingly, some embodiments of the tethered portion 630 provide a rigid electrical / data connection that mitigates the risk of cable 632 / 634 degradation over time.

[0047] FIG. 7 illustrates a line representation of aspects of a mobile computing cabinet environment 700 that may be deployed in a data center in accordance with various embodiments. The mobile computing cabinet environment 700 has a rigid housing portion 710 and at least one mobility portion 712 that allows for selective motion, such as manual or automated movement along an aisle of a data center adjacent fixed rows of vertically stacked computing enclosures. The mobile computing cabinet environment 700 may support and protect a number of computing enclosures 720 that may be operational, in conjunction with enclosures of the fixed rows, through a tethered portion 730 extending from overhead, as generally shown in FIG. 7.

[0048] In comparison to the tethered portion 630 of FIG. 6 that presents loosely attached cables 632 / 634 supported with guide portions 636 that prevent excessive cable bending, the tethered portion 730 utilizes bus engagement, which may be electrified, to allow data and / or electrical connection to the computing enclosures 720 without risk of cable failure due to bending beyond predetermined thresholds. As such, the tethered portion 730 has a fixed mast portion 732 that electrically mates to a bus portion 734 via a contact portion 736. By arranging the bus portion 734 to continuously extend along cabinet environment 700 movement routes, electrical and data connections to thecomputing enclosures 720 may remain active while allowing manual, or automated, movement of the cabinet housing portion 710.

[0049] The contact portion 736 between the bus portion 734 and mast portion 732 is not limited to a particular structural configuration, but may employ one or more conductive pads, poles, or surfaces that mate to form, and maintain, reliable electrical / data pathways with performance capabilities conducive to the requirements of the computing enclosures 720 of the mobile computing cabinet environment 700. The contact portion 736, in some embodiments, employs a physical suspension, such as spring, magnet, pneumatic, and / or hydraulic mechanisms to mitigate physical deviations overtime, particularly during cabinet housing portion 710 movement. That is, the tethered portion 730 may employ one or more suspensions that dampen force, stress, and / or vibrations experienced by the contact portion 736 to optimize the reliability, and quality, of connection between the bus portion 734 and mast portion 732.

[0050] FIG. 8 is a block representation of a cabinet system 800 that may be utilized with one or more mobile computing cabinets in a data center. Initially, it is noted that the cabinet system 800 may employ a cabinet computing device 810 that is physically located anywhere with respect to a data center and mobile computing cabinet. For instance, a cabinet computing device 810 may be physically located on a mobile computing cabinet, within a data center and physically separate from a mobile computing cabinet, or physically located remotely from the data center.

[0051] The cabinet computing device 810 may employ any number, and type, of circuitry to translate input information 812 into one or more strategies and output information 814. The computing device 810 may utilize a local processor 820, such as a microcontroller or other programmable circuitry, alone or in combination with other, remote data processing capabilities. The processor 820 may utilize local data storage 830 in the form of volatile, or non-volatile, magnetic, or solid-state, memory arrays to temporarily, or permanently, store data and information pertinent to operation of connected computing components, such as processing and / or data storage hardware contained in computing enclosures.

[0052] While not limiting, the computing device 810 may input a variety of different information 812, such as the current position of a mobile computing cabinet, past positions of the mobile computing cabinet, available power cables, available data cables, cooling configurations for a data center, and computing capabilities of the enclosures contained within the housing portion of the mobile computing cabinet. As a result of interpretation and processing of the input information, the computing device 810 may output any number of strategies that respectively prescribe operating parameters for a mobile computing cabinet as well as desired cabinet positions for assorted operating conditions.

[0053] In accordance with some embodiments, the computing device 810 may employ hardware and circuitry of a motion module 840 to determine the current location of a mobile computing cabinet as well as the possible locations where the mobile computing cabinet may be located in the future. The motion module 840 alone, or in combination with the local processor 820, may generate, maintain, and execute a motion strategy that prescribes movement of at least one mobile computing cabinet in a data center in response to predetermined conditions and / or operational triggers. For instance, the motion strategy may prescribe the manual, or automated, relocation of a mobile computing cabinet in response to a prescribed time of day, emphasis on increasing the computing capabilities of the data center, or ingress of technicians needing physical access to one or more computing enclosures.

[0054] With the motion module 840 evaluating and understanding where various mobile computing cabinets are located within a data center facility, the motion strategy may prescribe a variety of different routes and locations where a cabinet may go to provide functional benefits, such as physical access, cooling capabilities, and dynamic computing capabilities as mobile computing cabinet(s) are activated. In some embodiments, the motion strategy may prescribe the deactivation and storage of one or more mobile computing cabinets to free floor space in data center aisles or the filling of aisle space with mobile computing cabinets to provide maximum computing capabilities.

[0055] It is noted that the generation, and maintenance, of a motion strategy may provide different selectable tradeoffs through the movement, placement, and activation of one or more mobile computing cabinets. That is, a motion strategy may prescribe mobile computing cabinet actions that increase computing capabilities while reducing physical access to computing enclosures of fixed rows of rack portions, or vice versa. The ability to intelligently assign mobile computing cabinet position, and movement, with known tradeoffs may allow for more consistent, and reliable, data center operation and performance.

[0056] The functional tradeoffs considered, and executed, through a motion strategy may be similar, or dissimilar, to tradeoffs provided by a cooling strategy generated and executed by a cooling module 850. A cooling strategy may sense, evaluate, and speculate as to how computing enclosures of a data center are operating with regards to temperature to prescribe mobile computing cabinet actions to maintain, or alter, how at least one computing enclosure is cooling. It is noted that a cooling strategy may detect, and protect, the operational cooling of computing enclosures in fixed rows of rack portions and / or the mobile computing cabinets themselves.

[0057] While not limiting, a cooling strategy may prescribe movement of one or more mobile computing cabinets, in conjunction with the motion module 840 and motion strategy, to induce a desired cooling condition. For instance, a mobile computing cabinet may, in accordance with a cooling strategy, move to a cold, air intake aisle in response to computing enclosures of the cabinet reaching elevated levels or may deactivate cooling aspects of enclosures of a mobile computing cabinet when output airflow from adjacent fixed rows is above a threshold prescribed in the cooling strategy. With predetermined responses to operating temperatures of air and / or computing components in a data center, the cooling strategy may efficiently utilize one or more mobile computing cabinets to increase data center computing capabilities without jeopardizing the reliability of constituent computing devices.

[0058] The computing device 810 may further employ hardware and circuitry of an access module 860 to evaluate the availability of physical access to different aspects ofa data center. As a result of the understanding, by the access module 860, of the availability of access to computing enclosures of fixed, and mobile, portions of a data center, an access strategy may be generated, maintained, and executed in response to detected operational conditions in a data center. As a non-limiting example of an access strategy, the number of human occupants in a data center may trigger the movement of one or more mobile computing cabinets to allow greater access availability. Another nonlimiting example of prescribed cabinet movement from an access strategy may involve the time of day, the volume of available accessible enclosures, and / or operational activity of computing components that are at greater risk for needing manual inspection, repair, or replacement.

[0059] In accordance with some embodiments of an access strategy, mobile computing cabinet movement, and / or activation, may be prescribed to accommodate, mitigate, or avoid emergency situations, such as power outage, security breach, or unusual environmental condition. For instance, an access strategy may prescribe deactivating and / or moving mobile computing cabinets out of data center aisles to allow maximum cooling, and physical access, during operational conditions contemplated by the access strategy.

[0060] The computing device 810 may further generate and selectively execute a power strategy that prescribes how a data center consumes electrical power over time, particularly with respect to powering one or more mobile computing cabinets. A power strategy may, in some embodiments, activate different, or supplemental cabling in response to lowered power supply and / or increased data center electrical demand. It is contemplated that a power strategy may prescribe the activation of supplemental tethered power sources in response to detected conditions that demand higher volumes of electrical power. The power strategy, in other embodiments, may prompt the activation, or deactivation, of computing enclosures, such as particularly hot and / or error-prone enclosures.

[0061] The power strategy may coincide with the cooling strategy to perform one or more alterations to operational parameters to provide more efficient, and reliable, datacenter performance. For instance, the power and cooling strategies may trigger the activation of additional electrical power sources, such as wind, thermal, or solar, in addition to grid power to provide consistent electrical supply to operate, and cool, the computing components of the respective data center computing enclosures.

[0062] Additional embodiments include any one of the embodiments described above, where one or more of its components, functionalities or structures is interchanged with, replaced by or augmented by one or more of the components, functionalities or structures of a different embodiment described above. It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

[0063] Although several embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure will come to mind to which the disclosure pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein above, and that many modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims which follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the present disclosure, nor the claims which follow.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile computing cabinet configured to maintain operation of a computing device during movement of a rack portion of the cabinet comprising: a rack portion configured to receive a computing device; a tethered portion configured to connect the computing device to an electrical source and to a data source; wherein the rack portion comprises a mobility portion structurally configured to support the rack portion on a portion of a floor surface; wherein the mobility portion is configured to allow movement of the rack portion in a first direction relative to the floor surface portion; wherein the mobility portion is configured to allow movement of the rack portion in a second direction relative to the floor surface portion, wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the first direction; wherein the tethered portion includes a data pathway portion structurally configured to provide a fiber optic cable to the computing device; wherein the tethered portion is positioned at a height above the rack portion; wherein the tethered portion includes a guide portion structurally configured to prevent bending of the fiber optic cable beyond a predetermined threshold during movement of the rack portion in the first direction and the second direction; and wherein the tethered portion is structurally configured to provide the computing device with electrical power from the electrical source and data from the data source while the rack portion is moved in the first direction and the second direction so as to maintain operation of the computing device during movement of the rack portion in the first direction and the second direction.

2. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined threshold corresponds with an operational bend limit for the at least one fiber optic cable.

3. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the tethered portion is structurally configured to provide a plurality of fiber optic cables to the rack portion.

4. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the guide portion comprises a plurality of guide portions that are structurally configured to move in response to movement of the rack portion in the first direction and / or the second direction.

5. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the guide portion comprises a plurality of guide portions that are structurally configured to remain stationary in response to movement of the rack portion.

6. A mobile computing cabinet configured to maintain operation of a computing device during movement of a rack portion of the cabinet comprising: a rack portion configured to receive a computing device; a tethered portion configured to connect the rack portion to an electrical source and to a data source; wherein the rack portion comprises a mobility portion structurally configured to support the rack portion on a portion of a floor surface; wherein the mobility portion is configured to allow two-dimensional movement of the rack portion relative to the floor surface portion; wherein the tethered portion includes a fiber optic cable configured to optically couple the data source with the computing device; and wherein the tethered portion is structurally configured to maintain electrical power of the computing device from the electrical source and data from the data source while the rack portion is moved two-dimensionally so as to maintain operation of the computing during movement of a rack portion.

7. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 6, wherein the tethered portion is structurally configured with a bus portion electrically coupled to a mast portion.

8. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 7, wherein the mast portion and bus portion are each positioned above the rack portion.

9. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 7, wherein the mast portion is structurally configured to slide along the bus portion to maintain contact of the computing device with the electrical source and the data source.

10. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 8, wherein the bus portion continuously extends along a first direction.

11. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 10, wherein the bus portion continuously extends along a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction.

12. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 6, wherein the mast portion is structurally configured to provide a plurality of fiber optic cables to the rack portion.

13. A mobile computing cabinet configured to maintain operation of a computing device during movement of a rack portion of the cabinet comprising: a rack portion configured to house a computing device; a tethered portion configured to connect the computing device to an electrical source and to a data source; wherein the rack portion comprises a mobility portion configured to support the rack portion on a portion of a floor surface and to allow movement of the rack portion relative to the floor surface portion in a first rack portion movement direction and / or in a second rack portion movement direction that is substantially different from the first rack portion movement direction; and wherein the tethered portion is configured to maintain electrical power to the computing device from the electrical source and data to the computing device from the data source while the rack portion is moved in the first rack portion movement direction or the second rack portion movement direction so as to maintainoperation of the computing during movement of the rack portion in the first rack portion movement direction or the second rack portion movement direction.

14. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 13, wherein the rack portion is configured as a part of a first row portion comprising a plurality of separate rack portions.

15. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 14, further comprising a second row portion comprising a plurality of separate rack portions, the first row portion configured to be separated from the first row by an aisle portion.

16. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 14, wherein the first rack portion movement direction is substantially orthogonal to the first row portion and the second rack portion movement direction is substantially parallel to the first row portion.

17. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 15, wherein the mobility portion and the tether portion are structurally configured to allow operation of the computing device when the rack portion is positioned in the aisle portion.

18. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 13, wherein the tethered portion is structurally configured to continuously provide the connection to the electrical source and the data pathway during two-dimensional movement of the rack portion on a floor surface portion.

19. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 13, wherein the tethered portion is positioned above the rack portion, on an opposite side of the rack portion from a mobility portion.

20. The mobile computing cabinet of claim 13, wherein the rack portion is moved in the second direction in response to a frequency of access to the computing device falling below a predetermined threshold.

Images