Remote Power Down Control for Multi-Host Network Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Powering off devices used by multiple hosts in a network is challenging, as existing methods can cause delays when a device is powered down by one host but needs to be powered up by another, leading to undesirable downtime.
Innovation Solution
A method for remote power down control that monitors all externally connected sources of valid power down requests and powers down a device only when a combination of requests and inactivity timeouts are met, ensuring that devices are not powered up unnecessarily.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a device is powered down by one host, then energy consumption is reduced, but another host may experience delays when needing to access the device
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the state of all hosts connected to the device. Before powering down the device, the controller checks whether any host is currently accessing it. This feedback mechanism ensures that the device is only powered down when safe to do so, preventing unnecessary downtime for hosts that need immediate access while still enabling energy savings when the device is truly unused.
2Loss of time
If the device monitors all external sources for power down requests, then unnecessary power cycles are prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary power management controller that sits between the multiple hosts and the device. This intermediary component centralizes the monitoring of power down requests and device state from all hosts, coordinating power management decisions to prevent unnecessary power cycles. By placing this intermediary layer, the complexity of tracking multiple host states is consolidated in one dedicated component rather than distributed across all system elements.
Data Source
AI summary
In remote power down control of a device configured for externally initiated remote power down, such as over a network, all externally connected sources of valid power down requests for the device is monitored; and the device is powered down in response to a combination of one of a received power down request and a time out with respect to each of the sources of valid power down requests for the device.