UPS System Information Aggregation via Multi-Function Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems lack efficient methods for gathering, storing, and providing system information related to configuration management and performance across connected devices, limiting user control and monitoring capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A UPS system with data storage and an interface that receives, stores, and transmits system information, including configuration management and performance data, via external interfaces, and displays it through a user interface, enabling comprehensive monitoring and control of connected devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a UPS system collects and stores detailed system information from connected devices, then user control and monitoring capabilities are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UPS system is designed to perform multiple functions: it not only provides power management but also collects, stores, and transmits system information from connected devices. The controller serves as both a power management unit and an information processing unit, while data storage components serve both operational and informational purposes. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by integrating information gathering capabilities into existing UPS components rather than adding separate complex systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external system interface as an intermediary that facilitates communication between the UPS and connected devices. This interface acts as a mediator that collects information from devices, transmits it to the UPS controller, and enables data exchange without requiring direct complex integration between the UPS and each connected device. The intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture while enhancing monitoring capabilities.
2Loss of information
If system information is stored locally in the UPS, then information availability is improved, but data storage requirements increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The UPS data storage components are designed to serve dual purposes: storing operational data for power management and storing system information from connected devices. This multi-functional use of existing storage resources ensures information availability without adding dedicated storage subsystems, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates copies of system information from connected devices and stores them locally in the UPS. This copying mechanism ensures that information is available even if the original source device is unavailable, while the copied data can be managed and transmitted without requiring the original device to be continuously connected.
3Ease of operation
If the UPS transmits system information via external interfaces, then information accessibility is improved, but communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The external system interface is designed to handle multiple communication functions: collecting information from devices, transmitting data to external systems, and receiving configuration commands. This multi-functional communication interface reduces the need for separate dedicated communication channels for each function, thereby improving information accessibility without proportionally increasing communication complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A power device, such as a UPS, and a method for gathering system information using the power device are provided. In one aspect, a UPS receives system information associated with at least one other device, the system information including configuration management information, stores, in data storage, the system information associated with the at least one other device and provides the system information to an external entity.