Power Sharing Network Device Dynamic Load Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional network communications devices face inefficiencies in power supply management, as each device requires a dedicated power supply that may be underutilized until future expansions, leading to resource inefficiency and unnecessary standby power supplies that do not contribute during normal operation.

Innovation Solution

A system of power-sharing network communications devices interconnected via a power bus and current-sharing bus, allowing for dynamic distribution of power loads among devices based on their capacities, enabling flexible and efficient resource allocation and redundancy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a dedicated power supply is included in each network communications device to meet future expansion needs, then the device can accommodate system growth, but the power supply remains underutilized during normal operation leading to resource inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapacity for system growthVSAvoidpower supply underutilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges power supply resources across multiple network communications devices by interconnecting them through a common power bus. This allows the power capacity of multiple devices to be pooled together, creating a shared power resource that can be dynamically allocated. Instead of each device having its own dedicated underutilized power supply, the system combines power supplies into a collective resource that serves all devices efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes power supplies universal by enabling them to serve multiple functions: each power supply not only powers its local device but also contributes to the shared power pool that can support other devices. The power bus enables power to flow bidirectionally, allowing any device to act as both a power consumer and a power source depending on its current load and capacity, thus achieving multi-functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If standby or backup power supplies are included to provide high availability, then system reliability is improved, but these backup supplies do not contribute during normal operation representing inefficient resource use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem availabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic power allocation where the role of each power supply changes based on real-time system conditions. Instead of static assignment where certain supplies are reserved as backups, the system continuously monitors power loads and capacities, dynamically redirecting power flow to where it is needed. This allows backup supplies to actively contribute to power delivery during normal operation when capacity exists, while still maintaining reliability through the ability to switch between sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms through the interconnection of power buses and control circuits that monitor the status of each power supply and load. This feedback enables the system to detect when a power supply has excess capacity and automatically redirect power to devices that need it, while also detecting when failures occur and rerouting power accordingly. The feedback loop ensures both efficiency during normal operation and reliability during failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Power

If power supplies are sized to accommodate foreseeable highest loads, then the system can handle peak demand, but the power supply operates inefficiently at lower loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeak power capacityVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power delivery system into multiple independent power supply units, each potentially sized for local needs, rather than requiring a single oversized power supply for peak system demand. This segmentation allows each unit to operate more efficiently at its optimal load point while the aggregate system capacity meets peak demands through the pooling effect of multiple units working together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2567505B1Power-sharing network communications device
Publication Date: 2014.02.26 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP2567505B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2567505B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2567505B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A set of network communications devices shares (48) available power among themselves to meet overall system power loading. An individual device (48) is configured to include a local power supply (28) delivering power to a local power bus (30) at a local supply voltage varied in response to a voltage control signal. A protection component (38) is connected between the local power bus (30) and an external power cable (18) used to connect the device to another device for sharing power. The protection component (38) provides an interruptible low- impedance DC path for carrying current based on direction and magnitude of a voltage difference between the local power bus (30) and the external power cable (18. Control circuitry (42 ) is used to: (a) drive a current - sharing bus connected among the devices to influence a value of a system current - sharing signal indicating a level of system power loading among the devices; (b) generate a difference signal indicating a difference between local power loading of the local power supply and the system power loading reflected by the system current - sharing signal; and (c) generate the voltage control signal based on the difference signal to achieve a predetermined sharing of the system power loading by the local power supply.