Date-Adjusted Power Budgeting for Information Handling Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information handling systems face challenges in accurately estimating power consumption, leading to over- or under-provisioning of power and cooling resources, which affects performance and efficiency due to outdated power budget tables that do not account for improvements in component technology over time.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using the manufacturing date of components to adjust power consumption estimates by applying a power reduction factor, calculated based on historical data or user input, to ensure that power budgeting remains synchronized with current component capabilities, thereby improving the accuracy of power estimates for decision-making in information handling systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If static power budget tables are used for power estimation, then the system structure is simple and easy to implement, but the power estimation accuracy deteriorates over time due to component technology improvements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower budgeting system structureVSAvoidpower consumption estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static power budget table into a dynamic estimation system that automatically adapts to component manufacturing dates. The system calculates adjusted power budgets by applying reduction factors based on the age of components, making the power estimation dynamic rather than fixed. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining system simplicity while improving accuracy through date-based adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of power budget estimation from a fixed value to a time-dependent value. By introducing manufacturing date as a variable parameter and applying power reduction factors based on component age, the system adapts to technological improvements without requiring complete restructuring of the power budgeting framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If power budget tables are updated frequently to reflect component improvements, then power estimation accuracy improves, but the system complexity and maintenance burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumption estimation accuracyVSAvoidpower budget table maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the power budgeting system to automatically adjust itself based on component manufacturing dates without requiring manual updates to power budget tables. The system calculates adjusted power budgets by applying reduction factors based on component age, making the system self-updating and eliminating the maintenance burden associated with frequent manual table updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces manufacturing date and power reduction factors as intermediary elements between the component and the power budget estimation. Instead of directly updating power budget tables to reflect component improvements, the system uses these intermediaries to automatically adjust estimates, simplifying the maintenance process while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If outdated power budget tables are used, then the system operation is stable and predictable, but resource allocation becomes inefficient due to over- or under-provisioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operation stabilityVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies power reduction factors based on component manufacturing dates before finalizing power budget allocations. By preliminarily adjusting the power budget estimates to account for technological improvements, the system ensures efficient resource allocation while maintaining stable operation. This preliminary adjustment prevents both over-provisioning and under-provisioning of power resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3014384B1Date adjusted power budgeting for an information handling system
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 DELL PROD LP
  • EP3014384B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3014384B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3014384B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An in formation handling system determines a system configuration including a hardware module, and determines an adjusted power budget for the hardware module. The adjusted power budget is based on a calculation including a difference between a date code read from the hardware module and a baseline date, a baseline power budget, a power reduction period and a power reduction interval. The calculation may optionally include a risk factor. In alternate embodiments, an adjusted power budget for a hardware module may be calculated by an order processing system for information handling systems, or by a planning tool for a data center which contains information handling systems.