Grouped Server Power Allocation with Supplemental Batteries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for power supply management in server systems primarily focus on a single apparatus main body, making it difficult to maintain power supply to multiple servers using batteries.

Innovation Solution

A server system is divided into groups, with a system power provider and a battery for each group, allowing for independent power distribution and control of servers based on available system power and battery power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If power supply management is implemented for a single apparatus main body, then power supply control is simplified, but it becomes difficult to maintain power supply to multiple servers using batteries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply controlVSAvoidmulti-server power supply capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides multiple servers into separate groups, with each group having its own battery and power supply management. This segmentation allows independent power supply control for each group while maintaining overall system coordination, resolving the contradiction between simplified control and multi-server capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If a battery is provided for each group of servers, then maintenance becomes easier, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance easeVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By providing batteries at the group level rather than individual server level, the system achieves modular segmentation that simplifies maintenance (replacing one battery serves multiple servers) while avoiding the complexity of individual server batteries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each battery serves multiple servers within its group, making it a universal power source for that group. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of batteries needed compared to individual server batteries, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9910486B2Controlling power allocation in a server system that utilizes supplemental batteries

Publication Date: 2018.03.06 NEC CORP

AI summary

This invention provides a server system in which a plurality of servers are divided into a plurality of groups in accordance with a physical arrangement. The server system includes at least one system power provider that distributes and provides system power to each of the plurality of groups, a battery that corresponds to each of the plurality of groups and provides stored power to at least two servers included in the group, and a controller that controls each of the servers included in one group based on power providable by the system power provider and the battery.