Redundant Power Supply Port-Level Priority Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network switch power allocation systems lack granularity and flexibility in distributing backup power, often prioritizing switches based on total power requirements rather than per-port characteristics, leading to potential power outages for lower priority switches, especially those with high priority ports like PoE devices during power failures.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic and configurable power allocation scheme that assigns backup power based on individual communication port priorities within network switches, allowing administrators to define priorities for each port and dynamically reallocate power from lower priority ports to higher priority ones during power failures, using a controller to manage power distribution across a shared RPS system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power is allocated to switches based on total power requirement, then high power switches receive adequate backup power, but low power switches with high priority ports may be prevented from receiving power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power allocation decision from the switch level to the port level. Instead of allocating power to entire switches based on their total power requirements, the system divides the allocation granularity to individual ports within switches. This allows the RPS to evaluate and allocate power to specific ports based on their priority assignments, enabling low power switches with high priority ports to receive adequate backup power while maintaining overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different priority levels to different ports within the same switch. Rather than treating all ports on a switch uniformly, the system allows administrators to assign priority values to individual ports based on their criticality. This enables differentiated power allocation where high priority ports receive preferential treatment during power shortages, while low priority ports may be deprioritized, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If backup power is pooled centrally, then power distribution is simplified, but granularity in assigning backup power to individual ports is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power allocation control logic into two parts: centralized power pooling management and distributed port-level priority assignment. The RPS controller maintains centralized control over the pooled power budget, simplifying power distribution management. Meanwhile, port priority configurations are assigned at the individual port level, enabling fine-grained control without requiring complex centralized decision-making for each port. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational simplicity at the power management level while enabling detailed control at the port level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning priority levels to ports before power allocation decisions are made. Administrators configure priority values for each port in advance, storing this information in the RPS controller. When power allocation decisions need to be made during operation, the system simply references these pre-configured priority values rather than performing complex real-time evaluations. This preliminary configuration action simplifies the operational complexity of dynamic power allocation while maintaining centralized power pooling.
3Power
If power is allocated based on switch priority levels, then high power requirements are met, but per-port priority characteristics are ignored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power assessment metric from switch-level total power requirements to port-level individual power requirements. Instead of evaluating switches solely based on their aggregate power consumption, the system breaks down the assessment to individual ports, considering each port's power needs and priority independently. This segmentation enables accurate measurement of port priority characteristics while maintaining adequate power allocation, resolving the contradiction between power allocation and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different assessment criteria to different ports based on their priority assignments. High priority ports receive preferential assessment and allocation regardless of their host switch's overall power consumption profile. This localized assessment approach ensures that port priority characteristics are accurately measured and reflected in power allocation decisions, while still meeting the power requirements of the switches they reside in.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes a more efficient and configurable power allocation scheme for redundant power supply (RPS) systems used in network switches. This allocation scheme allows the system owner to assign power from a shared RPS unit to higher priority devices in any network switch in the system. This permits more granularity in assigning the RPS with backup power available to devices such as ports residing within individual switches in a multiple switch network. An efficient power allocation scheme for RPS allows the user to define the system priority of various devices for backup power according to the user's preferences. The user may assign the RPS to user-defined high priority devices in any piece of equipment. This makes RPS power allocation more flexible by offering the user more setup options for backup power.