Power distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9690343-B2
Application number	US-201414178102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2014
Priority date	Feb 11, 2014
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A power distribution system includes a chassis with a plurality of ports that include a first port configured to communicate with powering devices and a second port configured to communicate with powered devices. A power distribution engine in the chassis is coupled to each of the plurality of ports. The power distribution engine determines that power available to the power distribution engine is insufficient to power a first powered device that is coupled to the first port, requests power from a first powering device that is coupled to the second port, and provides power that is received through the second port from the first powering device to the first powered device through the first port. In an embodiment, the first powered device and the second powered device are switch IHSs, the first port is configured as a trunk port, and the second port is configured as an access port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power distribution system, comprising:
a chassis;
a plurality of ports that are located on the chassis, wherein a first port of the plurality of ports is configured to both communicate data with powered devices and provide power to powered devices, and wherein each of a second port and a third port of the plurality of ports is configured to communicate data with powering devices, provide power to powering devices, and receive power from powering devices;
a power distribution engine that is included in the chassis and that is coupled to each of the plurality of ports, wherein the power distribution engine is configured to:
determine that power available to the power distribution engine is insufficient to power a first powered device that is coupled to the first port;
send, to a first powering device that is coupled to the second port and in response to determining that the power available to the power distribution engine is insufficient to power the first powered device, a request for power that is to be provided from the first powering device, wherein the first powering device is not providing power to the second port prior to sending the request;
receive power through the second port from the first powering device subsequent to sending the request;
provide power that is received through the second port from the first powering device to the first powered device through the first port;
communicate data to the first powered device through the first port;
receive, from a second powering device that is coupled to the third port, a request for power;
provide, in response to receiving the request for power from the second powering device, power that is received through the second port from the first powering device to the second powering device through the third port;
determine power provided to the second powering device through the third port is insufficient to satisfy the request for power from the second powering device and, in response, send, to the first powering device, a request for additional power;
receive additional power through the second port from the first powering device subsequent to sending the request for additional power; and
provide at least some of the additional power that is received through the second port from the first powering device to the second powering device through the third port.

2. The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the first port is designated an access port, and wherein each of the second port and the third port are designated as trunk ports.

3. The power distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power system that is included in the chassis and that is coupled to the power distribution engine, wherein the power system is configured to couple to a power source that is separate from the powering devices and provide power to the power distribution engine, and wherein the power distribution engine is configured to determine that power available from the power system is insufficient to power the first powered device that is coupled to the first port.

4. The power distribution system of claim 3 ,
wherein the power distribution engine is further configured to:
provide power that is received from the power system to the second powering device through the third port.

5. The power distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fourth port of the plurality of ports that is configured to communicate data with powering device, provide power to powering devices, and receive power from powering devices, wherein the power distribution engine is further configured to:
send, to the first powering device that is coupled to both the second port and the fourth port, the request for power that is to be provided from the first powering device, wherein the first powering device is not providing power to the second port and the fourth port prior to sending the request;
receive power through the second port and the fourth port from the first powering device subsequent to sending the request; and
provide power that is received through both the second port and the fourth from the first powering device to the first powered device through the first port.

6. An information handling system (IHS), comprising:
a first networking switch device;
a second networking switch device;
a third networking switch device that includes:
a first port that is coupled to the first networking switch device and that is configured to communicate data with the first networking switch device, provide power to the first networking switch device, and receive power from the first networking switch device;
a second port that is coupled to the second networking switch device and that is configured to communicate data with the second networking switch device, provide power to the second networking switch device, and receive power from the second networking switch device, and
a third port that is coupled to a first powered device and that is configured to communicate data with the first powered device and provide power to the first powered device, wherein the third networking switch device is configured to:
determine that power available to the third networking switch device is insufficient to power the first powered device;
send, through the first port to the first networking switch device and in response to determining that the power available to the third networking switch device is insufficient to power the first powered device, a request for power that is to be provided from the first networking switch device, wherein the first networking switch device is not providing power to the third networking switch device prior to sending the request;
receive power from the first networking switch device through the first port subsequent to sending the request;
provide power that is received from the first networking switch device through the first port to the first powered device through the third port; and
communicate data to the first powered device through the third port;
receive, through the second port from the second networking switch device, a request for power;
provide, in response to receiving the request for power from the second networking switch device, power that is received through the first port from the first powering device to the second networking switch device through the second port;
determine power provided to the second networking switch device through the second port is insufficient to satisfy the request for power from the second networking switch device and, in response, send a request for additional power to the first networking switch device;
receive additional power through the first port from the first networking switch device subsequent to sending the request for additional power; and
provide at least some of the additional power that is received from the first networking switch device to the second networking switch device through the second port.

7. The IHS of claim 6 , wherein the third port is an access port, and wherein each of the first port and the second port are trunk ports.

8. The IHS of claim 6 , wherein the third networking switch device is coupled to a power source that is separate from the first networking switch device and the second networking switch device, and wherein the third networking switch device is configured to determine that power available from the power source is insufficient to power the first powered device.

9. The IHS of claim 8 , further comprising
wherein the third networking switch device is further configured to:
provide power that is received from the power source to the second networking switch device through the second port.

10. The IHS of claim 6 , wherein the third net

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Teeter Victor B

Classifications

• G06F1/263 Primary

  Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/266 Primary

  Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips · CPC title