Ultrasonic Triangulation for Data Center Equipment Location Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manual configuration monitoring in data centers is time-consuming and difficult to maintain in real-time, especially with frequent equipment changes, upgrades, and relocations, hindering efficient maintenance and visualization.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing ultrasonic transducers and triangulation techniques to automatically discover and map the physical location of data center equipment, with each device emitting an ultrasonic signal and detectors calculating the time of arrival to determine relative and absolute positions, enabling real-time visualization and monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration monitoring is used to track equipment locations, then personnel can maintain awareness of equipment positions, but the process becomes time-consuming and difficult to maintain in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring processes with an automated ultrasonic detection system. Transducers emit and detect ultrasonic signals from equipment, automatically calculating positions through time-of-arrival measurements. This substitution eliminates time-consuming manual tracking while maintaining reliable equipment location information in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables equipment to self-report its location by emitting ultrasonic signals that are automatically detected and processed. Each piece of equipment with an ultrasonic emitter can independently provide its position information without requiring manual intervention, achieving self-service location tracking.
2Loss of information
If manual updates are performed to maintain equipment maps, then configuration information can be kept current, but real-time visualization and monitoring become extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic detection system operates continuously, with transducers constantly emitting and detecting signals to maintain up-to-date equipment location information. This continuous operation ensures configuration information remains current without discrete manual updates, enabling real-time visualization and monitoring of equipment positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual map updating processes with automated ultrasonic detection and position calculation. The continuous automated monitoring eliminates information loss associated with manual updates while dramatically improving real-time monitoring productivity through automatic position tracking and map generation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If frequent equipment changes, upgrades, and relocations occur, then data centers can adapt to new requirements, but manual configuration monitoring becomes increasingly difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic detection system is inherently dynamic, automatically adapting to equipment changes without requiring manual reconfiguration. When equipment is moved, added, or removed, the system continuously detects new ultrasonic signals and automatically updates position calculations, maintaining ease of operation even during frequent reconfigurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback through ultrasonic signal detection and automatic position recalculation. When equipment changes occur, the feedback loop immediately detects the change through signal variations and automatically updates the configuration map, making the system highly adaptable to frequent changes while maintaining ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides real-time visibility and simplifies maintenance by automating the monitoring process, reducing manual intervention and enhancing the ability to track changes in data center equipment locations.
Implementation Method 1
Each device to be tested or discovered (and ultimately included in the map of the data center) has an associated ultrasonic emitter. A variety of ultrasonic transducers can be utilized, for example a speaker (emitter).
Implementation Method 2
The time of arrival circuitry can be implemented using a variety of hardware/software solutions. For example, the time of arrival circuitry can include at least one counter.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention is directed to a system and method for automatic discovery of the physical location of at least one device in a data center, the device having an associated ultrasonic emitter. The system generally includes a plurality of ultrasonic detectors having known locations in the data center. A controller initiates the generation of an ultrasonic signal from an ultrasonic emitter associated with a device under test. Time of arrival circuitry generates time of arrival information associated with each ultrasonic detector based on the time of receipt of the ultrasonic signal. The controller determines the location of the device under test based on the known location of the ultrasonic detectors within the data center and the time of arrival information associated with each ultrasonic detector.