US007171461B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Ewing et a].
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,171,461 B2
`*Jan. 30, 2007
`
`(54) NETWORK REMOTE POWER
`MANAGEMENT OUTLET STRIP
`
`(75) Inventors: Carrel W. Ewing, Reno, NV (US);
`Brian P. Auclair, R6110, NV (Us);
`Andrew J. Cleveland, Reno, NV (US);
`James P. Maskaly, Sparks, NV (US);
`
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ................ .. 307/34,
`307/35, 36, 37, 38, 11, 18, 31, 32, 43, 149,
`307/150; 361/601, 622; 713/330, 340; 439/652;
`337/186, 189; 709/223
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`_
`References Clted
`
`(56)
`
`Dennis W. McGlumphy, Sun Valley, NV (US); Mark J. Bigler, Eugene, OR
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`(Us)
`
`4,051,326 A
`
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`
`(Commued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 260 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`Clalmer'
`
`(21) APP1- NOJ 10/313,314
`_
`'
`(22) Flled'
`
`Dee‘ 6’ 2002
`
`W0 PCT/US91/08543
`
`5/1993
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`American Power Conversion, “Call-UPS”, 1991, #996-0070, APC,
`West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examinerilohn Follansbee
`Assistant ExamineriAshok Patel
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or F irmiKlarquist Sparkman LLC
`
`
`
`
`
`Prior Publication Data US 2003/0126253 A1 Jul. 3, 2003
`
`A vertical-mount network remote power management outlet
`strip embodiment of the present invention comprises a long,
`Related US, Application Data
`thin outlet strip body with several independently control
`.
`.
`f
`1.
`. N 09/930 780
`63 C .
`lable power outlet sockets distributed along its length. A
`(
`)
`?loe?lgllllatiél'milgan2golapggsvatge? I36 7 043’543’
`power input cord is provided at one end, and this supplies
`which is a ‘(é'ontil’mationiimpan O app'hcétion’ NO?
`09/732 557 ?led on Dec‘ 8 2000 HOW Pat‘ NO AC-operating power to relays associated with each of the
`7,099,934, ’Which is a comim’lationimpan of app1i_
`power outlet sockets. The relays are each addressably con
`Cation No_ 09/375,471’ ?led on Aug 16, 1999’ HOW
`trolled by a microprocessor connected to an internal l2C-bus
`Pat, No, 6,711,613, which is a Continuation-impart of
`serial communications channel. The power-on status of each
`application No. 08/685,436, ?led on Jul. 23, 1996,
`relay output to the power outlet sockets is sensed and
`now Pat. No. 5,949,974.
`communicated back on the internal l2C-bus. A device
`(51) Int_ CL
`networking communications processor with an embedded
`(200601)
`G061? 15/173
`operating system translates messages, status, and controls
`(200601)
`G06]? [/26
`between the internal l2C-bus and an Ethernet port, and other
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................... .. 709/223; 361/601; 361/622;
`external networks
`713/340; 439/652; 307/11; 307/18; 307/31;
`307/32; 307/36; 307/37; 307/43; 307/149
`
`21 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 1 of 23
`
`

`

`US 7,171,461 B2
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`American Power Conversion, “Measure-UPS”, Mar. 1993, #996
`0127, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “Introducing the UPS to build your
`business on .
`.
`. ”, Oct. 1993, #996-0207-A, APC, West Kingston,
`RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “Application Note #A2”, Oct. 1993,
`APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “Application Note #A6”, Oct. 1993,
`APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “Internetworking Power Protection”,
`Jan. 1994, # 996-0295, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “PowerNeta SNMP Adapter”, Jan.
`1994, #996-0126, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “Solutions ’94”, Feb. 1994, #996
`0131, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “APC NetShelter”, 1995, #996-0643
`A, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “PowerNet”, Sep. 1995, #996-0325
`b, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “APC Smart-UPS RM”, 1996, #996
`0618-B, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “APC Smart-UPS XL”, 1996, #996
`0630-B, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “Smart-UPS”, 1996, #996-0386-E,
`APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “PowerChute plus”, 1996, #996
`0041-C, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “Internetworking Power Protection”,
`1996, #996-0295-B, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “UPS Accessories”, 1996, #996
`0411-C, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “Application Notes”, Oct. 1996,
`#996-0495-C, APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`American Power Conversion, “PowerNet”, 1998, #996-0325D,
`APC, West Kingston, RI 02892 USA.
`
`B. Ewing and J. Mallory, “Power-On/Off-Product Information”,
`1990, Server Technology, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`Raphael Needleman, “Power-On/Off Lets You Turn on Remote PCs
`by Phone”, Feb. 1991, Info World Impressions, V. 13, Issue 5.
`Server Technology, Inc., “Any-To-Any Matrix Communications
`Switch”, 1996, Server Technology, Inc. Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc., “Sentry Ambassador”, 1996, Server Tech
`nology, Inc. Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc., “LAN WAN, Enterprise, Internet Access
`Equipment”, 1996, Server Technology, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc., “SENTRYRACK”, 1996, Server Technol
`ogy, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc., “SENTRYINTERNATIONAL”, 1996,
`Server Technology, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc. “SENTRY Communications and User
`Interface”, 1996, Server Technology, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc., “SENTRYSHELF”, 1996, Server Tech
`nology, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc., “SENTRY Power Modules”, 1996, Server
`Technology, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc., “SENTRY ShutDown Remote Power
`Manager”, 1997, Server Technology, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc., “SENTRY Administrator R-450 Remote
`Power Manager”, 1999, Server Technology, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc., “How Do You ReBoot Remote Equip
`ment?”, 1999, Server Technology, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc., “SENTRY R-2000 Remote Power Man
`ager”, 1999, Server Technology, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`Server Technology, Inc., “MasterSwitcha”, 1996, Server Technol
`ogy, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
`W. Richard Stevens. “TCP/IP Illustrated, vol. liThe Protocols”,
`pp. 359-361, 1994.
`Michael Slater. “Microprocessor-Based DesigniA Comprehensive
`Guide to Hardware Design”, pp. 19-24, 1989.
`Peter Drake. “Using SNMP to Manage Networks”, pp. 2/1-2/4,
`1991.
`Novak, T. “Remote Management of Individual Power Supplies”,
`netman.cit.buffalo.edu/CDN-M, p. 1, May 10, 1995.
`Uninteruptable Power Source FAQ, v. 1.0, pp. 1-10, Feb. 10, 1994.
`Davison, M., et al. UPS Management Information Base, Internet
`Draft, IETF, pp. 1-28, May 13, 1992.
`Sentry Ambassador Remote Power Manager © 1996.
`Sentry R-2000 Remote Power Manager © 2001.
`Sentry 110/230 VAC Product Family © 2000.
`Sentry Power Manager*48 VDC Product Family © 2000.
`Distributed Power Module Product List, Sep. 23, 2002.
`Sentry Power Modules © 1999.
`Sentry Power Tower Products © 2001/2002.
`Sentry Expanded Function Power Tower (PTEF) © 2001/2002.
`Sentry Serial Power Tower (PTSS) © 2001/2002.
`Sentry Power Tower Power Distribution © 2001/2002.
`Sentry Commander R-400 Remote Power Mgr. © 2001/2002.
`Sentry Commander R-400 Remote Pwr. Mgr. Datasheet © 1999.
`Sentry Administrator R-450 © 2001/2002.
`Sentry Administrator R-450 Remote Pwr. Mgr. © 1998.
`Remote Power On/Off, Installation and Operations Manual, © 1991.
`Sentry Remote Power Manager brochure © 1991.
`Power-On product wrapper © 1991.
`Remote Power On/Off product wrapper © 1991.
`Intelligent Power Module © 1991.
`Local and Remote Power On/Off Alternatives © 1991.
`New Box Speci?cation, dated Mar. 6, 1991.
`RPM-15 Power Module Speci?cation, Mar. 18, 1991.
`Sentry Remote Power Manager, Operational Instructions, Sep. 24,
`1992.
`. ”, Internet Telephony, Mar. 2000, pp. 84-87.
`.
`“Keeping Up With .
`“Rebooting Across the Net”, PC Magazine, May 5, 1998.
`“Server Technology Sentry R-2000”, PC Magazine, May 5, 1998.
`“APC MasterSwitch”, PC Magazine, May 5, 1998.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 2 of 23
`
`

`

`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 3 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 30, 2007
`
`Sheet 2 0f 8
`
`US 7,171,461 B2
`
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`
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`
`246
`
`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 4 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 30, 2007
`
`Sheet 3 0f 8
`
`US 7,171,461 B2
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`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 5 of 23
`
`

`

`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 6 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 30, 2007
`
`Sheet 5 0f 8
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`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 7 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 30, 2007
`
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`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 8 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 30, 2007
`
`Sheet 7 0f 8
`
`US 7,171,461 B2
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`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 9 of 23
`
`

`

`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 10 of 23
`
`

`

`US 7,171,461 B2
`
`1
`NETWORK REMOTE POWER
`MANAGEMENT OUTLET STRIP
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS
`
`This Application is a continuation-in-part of US. patent
`application Ser. No. 09/930,780, ?led Aug. 15, 2001, now
`US. Pat. No. 7,043,543, and titled VERTICAL-MOUNT
`NETWORK REMOTE POWER MANAGEMENT OUT
`LET STRIP. Such is in turn a continuation-in-part of US.
`patent application Ser. No. 09/732,557, ?led Dec. 8, 2000,
`now US. Pat. No. 7,099,934, titled NETWORK-CON
`NECTED POWER MANAGER FOR REBOOTING
`REMOTE COMPUTER-BASED APPLIANCES, that is a
`continuation-in-part of US. patent application Ser. No.
`09/375,471, ?led Aug. 16, 1999, now US. Pat. No. 6,711,
`613, titled REMOTE POWER CONTROL SYSTEM THAT
`VERIFIES WHICH DEVICES IS SHUT-DOWN BEFORE
`SUCH ACTION IS COMMITTED TO, Which in turn is a
`continuation-in-part of US. patent application Ser. No.
`08/685,436, that Was ?led on Jul. 23, 1996 and is titled,
`SYSTEM FOR READING THE STATUS AND CON
`TROLLING THE POWER SUPPLIES OF APPLIANCES
`CONNECTED TO COMPUTER NETWORKS, and now
`US. Pat. No. 5,949,974, issued Sep. 7, 1999. Such are
`incorporated herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The invention relates generally to remote poWer manage
`ment systems, and more particularly to electrical poWer
`distribution devices and methods for conserving the primary
`rack-mount spaces in a standard RETMA rack.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`NetWork server “farms” and other netWork router equip
`ment have settled on the use of equipment bays in 19"
`standard RETMA racks. Many of these server and router
`farms are located at telephone company (TelCo) central
`equipment o?ices because they need to tie into very high
`bandWidth telephone line trunks and backbones. So each
`TelCo typically rents space on their premises to the netWork
`providers, and such space is tight and very expensive.
`The typical netWork router, server, or other appliance
`comes in a rack-mount chassis With a standard Width and
`depth. Such chassis are vertically siZed in Whole multiples of
`vertical units (U). Each rented space in the TelCo premises
`has only so much vertical space, and so the best solution is
`to make best use of the vertical space by ?lling it With the
`netWork appliances and other mission-critical equipment.
`TWo kinds of operating poWer are supplied to such
`netWork appliances, alternating current (AC) from an unin
`terruptable poWer supply (UPS) or direct from a utility, the
`second kind is direct current (DC) from TelCo central o?ice
`battery sets. Prior art devices have been marketed that
`control such AC or DC poWer to these netWork appliances.
`For example, Server Technology, Inc. (Reno, Nev.) provides
`operating-poWer control equipment that is specialiZed for
`use in such TelCo premises RETMA racks. Some of these
`poWer-control devices can cycle the operating poWer on and
`off to individual netWork appliances.
`Such cycling of operating poWer Will force a poWer-on
`reset of the netWork appliance, and is sometimes needed
`When an appliance hangs or bombs. Since the netWork
`appliance is usually located remote from the netWork admin
`istration center, Server Technology has been quite successful
`in marketing poWer managers that can remotely report and
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`control netWork-appliance operating poWer over the Internet
`and other computer data netWorks.
`Conventional poWer management equipment has either
`been mounted in the tops or bottoms of the server farm
`RETMA racks, and thus has consumed vertical mounting
`space needed by the netWork appliances themselves. So
`What is needed noW is an alternate Way of supplying AC or
`DC operating poWer to such netWork appliances Without
`having to consume much or any RETMA rack space.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
`
`Brie?y, a vertical-mount netWork remote poWer manage
`ment outlet strip embodiment of the present invention com
`prises a long, thin outlet strip body With several indepen
`dently controllable poWer outlet sockets distributed along its
`length. A poWer input cord is provided at one end, and this
`supplies AC-operating poWer to relays associated With each
`of the poWer outlet sockets. The relays are each addressably
`controlled by a microprocessor connected to an internal
`I2C-bus serial communications channel. The poWer-on sta
`tus of each relay output to the poWer outlet sockets is sensed
`and communicated back on the internal I2C-bus. A device
`netWorking communications processor With an embedded
`operating system translates messages, status, and controls
`betWeen external netWorks, the internal I2C-bus, and other
`ports.
`In alternative embodiments of the present invention, a
`poWer manager architecture provides for building-block
`construction of vertical and horiZontal arrangements of
`outlet sockets in equipment racks. The electronics used in all
`such variants is essentially the same in each instance. Each
`of a plurality of poWer input feeds has a monitor that can
`provide current measurements and reports on the internal
`I2C-bus. Each of the poWer input feeds could be indepen
`dently loaded With a plurality of addressable-controllable
`outlets. Each outlet is also capable of measuring the respec
`tive outlet socket load current and reporting those values on
`the internal I2C-bus. Separate digital; displays are provided
`for each monitored and measured load and infeed current.
`The internal I2C-bus, logic poWer supply, netWork inter
`faces, poWer control modules and relays, etc., could be
`distributed amongst several enclosures that have simple plug
`connections betWeen each, the infeed poWer source, and the
`equipment loads in the rack.
`An advantage of the present invention is that a netWork
`remote poWer management outlet strip is provided that frees
`up vertical rackmount space for other equipment.
`Another advantage of the present invention is that a
`netWork remote poWer management outlet strip is provided
`for controlling the operating poWer supplied to netWork
`appliances over computer netWorks, such as TCP/IP and
`SNMP.
`A further advantage of the present invention is that a
`netWork remote poWer management outlet strip is provided
`that alloWs a netWork console operator to control the elec
`trical poWer status of a router or other netWork device.
`A still further advantage of the present invention is that a
`netWork remote poWer management outlet strip is provided
`for reducing the need for enterprise netWork operators to
`dispatch third party maintenance vendors to remote equip
`ment rooms and POP locations simply to poWer-cycle failed
`netWork appliances.
`These and many other objects and advantages of the
`present invention Will no doubt become obvious to those of
`ordinary skill in the art after having read the folloWing
`
`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 11 of 23
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`US 7,171,461 B2
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`3
`detailed description of the preferred embodiments Which are
`illustrated in the various drawing ?gures.
`
`IN THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a network remote
`poWer management outlet strip embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 2A is a front diagram of an implementation of the
`netWork remote poWer management outlet strip of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 2B is an assembly diagram of the netWork remote
`poWer management outlet strip of FIG. 2A Without the
`sheetmetal enclosure, and shoWs the interWiring amongst the
`AC-receptacles, the poWer input plug, and the various
`printed circuit board modules;
`FIG. 3 is a non-component side diagram of a printed
`circuit board (PCB) implementation of an intelligent poWer
`module IPT-IPM, similar to those of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B,
`and further illustrates an insulating sheet that is ?tted to the
`back;
`FIG. 4 is a component-side diagram of a printed circuit
`board (PCB) implementation of an intelligent poWer module
`IPT-IPM, similar to those of FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, and 3, and
`further illustrates the bus connections of the poWer outlet
`receptacles it sockets onto;
`FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an IPT-Net
`WorkPM module embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit that could be
`used in an implementation of the IPT-PS of FIGS. 1, 2A, and
`2B;
`FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a netWork remote
`poWer management system embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of an expandable
`poWer management system embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a poWer distri
`bution unit embodiment of the present invention; and
`FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of one Way to implement
`the IPT-IPM’s in any of FIGS. 1*9.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 represents a netWork remote poWer management
`outlet strip embodiment of the present invention, and is
`referred to herein by the general reference numeral 100. The
`outlet strip 100 provides independently managed poWer to
`each of sixteen AC-output receptacles 101*116. A poWer
`supply (IPT-PS) module 118 senses and totaliZes the com
`bined current delivered to all the AC-output receptacles
`101*116 from its AC-poWer input.
`Peripheral integrated circuits (IC’s) that have to commu
`nicate With each other and the outside World can use a simple
`bi-directional 2-Wire, serial data (SDA) and serial clock
`(SCL) bus for inter-IC (I2C) control developed by Philips
`Semiconductor. The I2C-bus has become a WorldWide
`industry-standard proprietary control bus.
`The IPT-PS module 118 digitally encodes the total AC
`current information onto an internal I2C-bus 119. The IPT
`PS module 118 supplies DC-operating poWer for the internal
`I2C-bus 119 Which is derived from the AC-poWer input.
`Each of four intelligent poWer modules (IPT-IPM) 120*123
`have four relays (KliK4) that sWitch AC-poWer from the
`IPT-PS module 118 to respective ones of the sixteen AC
`output receptacles 101*116. Such relays KliK4 are con
`trolled by a single I2C transceiver daisy-chain connected to
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`others along the internal I2C-bus 119. Each such I2C trans
`ceiver is independently addressable on the I2C-bus 119, and
`provides a digitally encoded poWer-on status indication for
`all four relays KliK4.
`An I2C-module (IPT-I2C) 124 receives digital messages
`on the internal I2C-bus 119 and decodes and displays the
`totaliZed combined current, e.g., in AC-amperes, on an
`LED-readout 126. A user is thus able to see the effect on the
`total current caused by plugging or unplugging a load from
`any or all of the AC-output receptacles 101*116.
`The Philips 87LPC762 microcontroller is used as an I2C
`interface to a dual seven-segment display. Port-0 pins select
`the illuminated segments of a seven-segment display. Pin
`P1.7 selects Which of the tWo seven-segment displays is
`being driven, and alternates betWeen the tWo seven-segment
`displays fast enough to avoid ?icker. The I2C slave address
`is con?gurable. Five commands are supported: STAT (sta
`tus) RBTN (Read button), RPRB (Read probe), CRST
`(Clear reset), and WDSP (Write display). A checksum is
`used on received/sent bytes for data integrity across the
`I2C-bus.
`The IPT-I2C microcontroller starts up With the 12C inter
`face in idle slave mode. Main ( ) Waits in a loop until the 12C
`interface is ?agged as non-idle. After an I2C start occurs,
`and the rising edge of SCL sets DRDY (and thus ATN), an
`I2C interrupt occurs. The I2C ISR disables the 12C interrupt
`and sets a global I2C non-idle ?ag. The main loop then
`proceeds to read in the ?rst byte from the I2C-bus. When
`seven bits are received, the target I2C is knoWn and is
`compared to the IPT-I2C microcontroller’s oWn module
`address. If different, the 12C interface processing stops and
`Waits for another start to begin again. If the same, the last bit
`of the ?rst byte is read, Which is the R/W bit. If a Read, then
`the IPT-I2C microcontroller acknoWledges the byte and
`repeatedly sends a ?xed number of response bytes: an
`address byte, a type byte, one or more data bytes, and a
`checksum. If a Write, then the IPT-I2C microcontroller
`acknoWledges the byte, and then Will read up to four more
`bytes: a command byte one or more data bytes, and a
`checksum. As received, the bytes are acknoWledged and
`compared to expected valid commands and data. As soon as
`a valid command, any data parameters and a valid checksum
`are received and acknoWledged, the command is acted upon.
`Without a valid checksum, the command is not acted upon.
`If an unexpected command or data is received, or more bytes
`are received than expected, then a negative acknoWledge
`occurs after the next byte is received, and the 12C interface
`is stopped, and another start is needed to begin again.
`Throughout the 12C processing loop, a bus timeout (by
`Timer 1 interrupt) resets the 12C interface to idle and the 12C
`processing loop to the appropriate states Timer U also
`guards the 12C interface With a 5-millisecond inter-clock
`timeout and a 15 second total I2C timeout. The total I2C
`timeout is reset When the IPT-I2C microcontroller is
`addressed on the 12C With its primary address (not the
`secondary address).
`The I2C IPT-I2C microcontroller commands include the
`STAT command Which sets the IPT-I2C microcontroller to a
`read type to STAT. This means that an I2C Read Will send
`four bytes (address, type data checksum) in Which the data
`byte represents the status of the IPT-I2C microcontroller.
`The RBTN command sets the IPT-I2C microcontroller
`read type to RBTN. This means that an I2C Read Will send
`four bytes (address, type, data, checksum) in Which the data
`byte represents the status of the button.
`The RPRB command sets the IPT-I2C microcontroller
`read type to RPRB. This means that an I2C Read Will send
`
`Petitioners’ Exhibit 1016
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870
`Page 12 of 23
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`US 7,171,461 B2
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`5
`?ve bytes (address, type data, data, checksum) in Which the
`data bytes represent the type of 1-Wire bus probe and the
`probe data.
`The CRST command clears the Reset Flag (RSTF), PoWer
`On Reset Flag (PORF), BroWnout Reset Flag (BORE), and
`WatchDog Reset Flag (WDRF) bits of the IPT-I2C micro
`controller status byte.
`The WDSP command sets the values for the dual seven
`segment display.
`At poWer up, the dash-dash blinks until a valid WDSP
`command is received. After that, if ten seconds pass Without
`receiving a valid WDSP command, the display reverts back
`to the blinking dash-dash.
`A read command is started by the master addressing the
`slave With the R/W bit set. A read command to the slave
`IPT-I2C microcontroller results in a ?xed number of bytes
`repeatedly being transmitted by the slave (address, type,
`data1 .
`.
`. dataN checksum). The ?rst byte is the address of
`the slave. The second byte indicates the type of data in the
`folloWing data byte(s). The last byte is a checksum of all the
`previous bytes.
`A Write command is started by the master addressing the
`slave With the R/W bit cleared. This is folloWed by the
`master transmitting multiple bytes to the slave, folloWed by
`a stop, or restart.
`The internal I2C-bus 119 is terminated at a netWork
`personality module (IPT-NetWorkPM) 128. Such provides
`an operating system, HTTP-server, and netWork interface
`betWeen the internal I2C-bus 119, an external I2C-bus 130,
`an Ethernet 10/100 BaseT 132, a modem 134, and a local
`operator’s console 136. The IPT-NetWorkPM 128 preferably
`uses Internet protocols like TCP/IP and supports simple
`netWork management protocol (SNMP). In one application,
`the outlet strip 100 could be used in the remote poWer
`management environment described by the present inven
`tors in their U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,974, issued Sep. 7, 1999.
`Such Patent is incorporated herein by reference.
`NetWork messages, e.g., using TCP/IP and SNMP, are
`communicated over the Ethernet 10/100 BaseT interface
`132. Such messages are able (a) to independently control the
`poWer on-olf to each of AC-output receptacles 1014116, (b)
`to read the poWer-on status of each, and (c) to report load
`current supplied by each outlet, or simply the total combined
`current measured passing through IPT-PS 118.
`In one embodiment, the poWer applied to AC-output
`receptacles 1014116 is not alloWed by the individual IPT
`IPM modules 1204123 to be simultaneously applied.
`Instead, each is alloWed to turn on in succession so any
`instantaneous load in-rush currents can not combine to
`exceed the peak capabilities of the AC-poWer input source.
`The total input current display 126 could be used to
`advantage by a technician When installing or troubleshooting
`a RETMA equipment rack by Watching hoW much current
`change is observed When each netWork appliance is plugged
`in and turned on. Unusually high or loW currents can
`indicate particular kinds of faults to experienced technicians.
`FIGS. 2A and 2B represent a netWork remote poWer
`management outlet strip embodiment of the present inven
`tion, Which is referred to herein by the general reference
`numeral 200. These illustrate one Way the netWork remote
`poWer management outlet strip 100 of FIG. 1 could be
`physically implemented and arranged. The outlet strip 200
`provides independently managed poWer to each of sixteen
`AC-output receptacles 2014216. These have AC-neutral and
`AC-ground bussed through tWo sets of eight, e.g., With
`12-gauge Wire. A poWer supply (IPT-PS) module 218 is
`daisy-chained in an internal I2C-bus 219 to a series of four
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`intelligent poWer modules (IPT-IPM) 2204223. The IPT-PS
`module 218 has, for example, a Philips microcontroller type
`87LPC762 that senses and totaliZes the combined current
`delivered on the AC-Line leads to all of four intelligent
`poWer modules (IPT-IPM) 2204223.
`The Philips 87LPC762/7 microcontroller is programmed
`as an I2C 8-bit I/O Expander, With an 8-bit 4-channel A/D
`converter. Eight pins are individually selectable as either an
`Input (quasi-bidirectional) or Output (open drain). Four
`address lines determine the I2C slave address. Eight com
`mands are supported: STAT (Status), RCFG (Read Con?g)
`RPRT (Read Port), RADC (Read ADC), CRST (Clear
`Reset), WCFG (Write Con?g), WPRT (Write Port), and
`ADCE (ADC Enable). A checksum is used on received/ sent
`bytes for data integrity across the I2C-bus. Without a valid
`checksum, a command Will not be acted upon.
`The microcontroller starts up With the 12C interface in idle
`slave mode. Main ( ) Waits in a loop until the 12C interface
`is ?agged as non-idle. After an I2C start occurs, and the
`rising edge of SCL sets DRDY and thus ATN, an I2C
`interrupt occurs. The I2C ISR disables the 12C interrupt and
`sets a global I2C non-idle ?ag. The main loop then proceeds
`to read in the ?rst byte from the I2C-bus. When seven bits
`are received, the target I2C is knoWn and is compared to the
`I/O Expander’s oWn module address. If different, the 12C
`interface processing stops and Waits for another start to
`begin again. If the same the last bit of the ?rst byte is read,
`Which is the R/W bit. If a Read, then the microcontroller
`acknoWledges the byte, and repeatedly sends a ?xed number
`of response bytes (an address byte, a type byte one or more
`data bytes, and a checksum). If a Write, then the microcon
`troller acknowledges the byte and then Will read up to three
`more bytes (a command by