Network power management system

Abstract

A power management device can include a housing, a power input associated with the housing, and a plurality of power outputs associated with the housing. At least certain power outputs can be connectable to one or more electrical loads external to the housing and to the power input. In some embodiments, a communications bus and one or more power control sections can be associated with the housing. In some embodiments, one or more power control sections can communicate with the communications bus and with one or more corresponding power outputs among the plurality of power outputs. In some embodiments, a power information display can communicate with the communications bus. If desired, a power information determining section can be associated with the housing and in communication with the communications bus. The power information determining section may communicate power-related information to the power information display.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A remotely manageable power distribution unit of a type useable to remotely control power provided to external electrical loads from a remote power manager location distal from the external electrical loads, the remotely manageable power distribution unit configured to be vertically mounted in a vertical electrical equipment rack and comprising in combination:
 A. a power distribution unit housing comprising a long, thin, vertical enclosure configured to be mounted in a vertical orientation in a back portion of the electrical equipment rack;   B. at least one power input disposed in the power distribution unit housing;   C. a plurality of power outputs disposed in the power distribution unit housing, each said power output being connectable to an electrical load external to the power distribution unit housing;   D. a communications bus disposed in the power distribution unit housing;   E. two or more power sections disposed in a longitudinal relationship in the power distribution unit housing, each comprising an electronic controller in communication with the communications bus and controllably connected to at least one power output among the plurality of power outputs;   F. a network communications section (i) having a network interface application system, (ii) being disposed in the power distribution unit housing in communication with the communications bus and therethrough the power sections, and (iii) being communicatingly connectable to a communications network external of the remotely manageable power distribution unit.   
     
     
         2 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1  wherein the network communications section comprises a network communications module removably disposed in the power distribution unit housing in communication with the communications bus. 
     
     
         3 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1  also having:
 G. a digital power information display disposed on the power distribution unit in power information determining communication with at least one among the plurality of power outputs. 
 
     
     
         4 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1  also having:
 G. a power output power-on sequencing system associated with the remotely manageable power distribution unit. 
 
     
     
         5 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1  also having at least one additional power input disposed in the power distribution unit housing and wherein the power distribution unit housing is removably mountable in the equipment rack. 
     
     
         6 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1  wherein the network interface application system supports transfer-control-protocol/internet-protocol data communications and includes a web browser interface application. 
     
     
         7 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1  wherein the network communications section is communicatingly connectable to at least an additional communications module in a separate remotely manageable power distribution unit. 
     
     
         8 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1  also having a master-slave compatible communications port and wherein the network communications section comprises a master power distribution unit system or a slave power distribution unit system. 
     
     
         9 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1  also having a master-slave compatible communications port and wherein the network communications section comprises a master power distribution unit system or plural slave power distribution unit systems and wherein the power distribution unit housing is removably mountable in the equipment rack. 
     
     
         10 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1  wherein (i) the power distribution unit housing is removably mountable in an electrical equipment rack and (ii) the remotely manageable power distribution unit also comprises:
 A. a power information display disposed in the power distribution unit in power information determining communication through the communications bus with at least one among the plurality of power outputs. 
 
     
     
         11 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1 , wherein the communication bus comprises a serial communications bus. 
     
     
         12 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1 , wherein the communication bus comprises an I2C bus. 
     
     
         13 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1 , wherein each power section comprises a microprocessor in communication with the communications bus. 
     
     
         14 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical equipment rack is a RETMA rack. 
     
     
         15 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical equipment rack is a RETMA rack and the power distribution unit housing is mountable in a rear portion of the RETMA rack, the rear portion comprising a space not occupied by appliances in the rack. 
     
     
         16 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1 , wherein the network interface application system includes an HTML interface. 
     
     
         17 . The remotely manageable power distribution unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a digital power information display disposed on the power distribution unit in measured current value information transfer communication with at least one among the power input and plurality of power outputs.