Component-Level Visual Control for Distributed Node Commissioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional modular data centers and server systems lack integrated monitoring and control systems that allow for efficient identification and resolution of failures or errors, requiring on-site technician intervention, which is time-consuming and costly.

Innovation Solution

An Interactive Component-Level Visual Monitoring and Control (ICVMC) system that provides a graphical user interface for monitoring and controlling large-scale information handling systems, enabling users to drill down to component levels, receive feedback from sensors, and perform corrective actions automatically or through a technician, reducing the need for on-site visits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If discrete monitoring and control systems are used in conventional modular data centers, then system modularity is maintained, but identification and resolution of failures require on-site technician intervention which is time-consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for identifying and resolving failuresVSAvoidcomplexity of monitoring and control systems
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges discrete monitoring systems and control systems into a unified integrated system that provides both monitoring and control functionalities through a single platform. This integration enables centralized management of distributed nodes, allowing technicians to perform both monitoring and control operations remotely without requiring on-site intervention, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining manageable system complexity through unified architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated system provides multi-functional capabilities including monitoring, diagnostics, and control operations through a single unified platform. The system can perform diverse functions such as visualizing node status, identifying failures, executing control actions, and managing distributed nodes all through one system, eliminating the need for separate discrete systems and reducing the time required for failure resolution

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

2Reliability

If on-site technician intervention is required for failure identification and resolution, then accurate diagnostics can be performed, but operational costs and downtime increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of failure identificationVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor node conditions and provide real-time data to the integrated control system. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically detect anomalies, diagnose failures, and execute corrective control actions without on-site technician intervention, maintaining high reliability through accurate automated diagnostics while improving operational efficiency by eliminating travel and manual inspection time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service capabilities where the integrated monitoring and control system automatically identifies failures, diagnoses issues, and executes control actions to resolve problems without requiring external technician intervention. The system serves itself by performing diagnostics and corrective actions autonomously, ensuring accurate failure identification through sophisticated algorithms while maintaining high productivity through continuous automated operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple discrete systems are used for monitoring and control, then system flexibility is maintained, but integration and coordinated control of distributed nodes are difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of monitoring and control systemsVSAvoidease of integrated control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated system provides universal functionality that handles diverse monitoring and control operations through a single unified platform. It can manage different types of nodes, perform various monitoring tasks, and execute multiple control actions all through one system interface, maintaining flexibility to adapt to different node types and operations while greatly improving ease of operation through centralized management and unified control mechanisms

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

Data Source

PatentEP3314550B1One-click commissioning and push updates to distributed, large-scale information handling system
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 DELL PROD LP
  • EP3314550B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3314550B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3314550B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A large-scale information handling system (LIHS) includes a plurality of nodes each having at least one functional component. An Interactive, Component-Level Visual Monitoring and Control (ICVMC) system displays on a graphical user interface (GUI) of a display device a selected one of the different levels of visual representations of a plurality of nodes, including a system level, node levels, sub-node levels, and component levels. The ICVMC system displays a control affordance on the display device, receives a selection of the control affordance from a user input component that is capable of manipulating and/or interfacing with one or more items on the GUI, and performs a control action to an identical functional component in each of the plurality of nodes in response to the selection of the control affordance.