Wireless communications capable power distribution unit and techniques for communicating therewith

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication between a PDU and one or more devices within a limited communications range are described. A power distribution unit may be provided with a wireless communications module that may operate to communicate with user devices within a relatively close proximity. The wireless communications module may provide information reporting and may, in some examples, provide a user of the user device with configuration and other command capabilities.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power distribution apparatus, comprising:
 a housing having a power input, and a plurality of power outputs;   a communications module coupled with the housing comprising a network connection interface and a wireless communications interface; and   a processor coupled with the housing and in communication with the communication module,   wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to communicatively couple with a wireless controller, and   wherein the communications module is configured to facilitate communications between the network processor and a wireless user device via the wireless controller when the wireless controller is communicatively coupled to the wireless communications interface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a printed circuit board located in the housing, and wherein the communications module and the processor are mounted on the printed circuit board.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the wireless controller, wherein the wireless controller is configurably attachable to the wireless communications interface. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a tether configured to attach the wireless communications interface to the wireless controller,   wherein the wireless communications interface and the wireless controller are communicatively coupled when attached.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the tether comprises a locking connector at one or more ends. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the wireless controller further comprises:
 a serial interface configured to communicate with the processor via the wireless communications interface; and   a radio frequency (RF) interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the user device via a wireless protocol.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the RF interface comprises a Bluetooth interface. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless controller further comprises:
 a discoverability button configured to, when pressed, initiate broadcast of PDU discoverability information over the RF interface for a pre-determined period of time.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless controller further comprises:
 a status indicator configured to provide a visible connectivity status.   
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a wireless controller, an indication that a discoverability button has been pressed;   accessing, by the wireless controller, PDU discoverability information from computer memory; and   broadcasting, by the wireless controller, the PDU discoverability information for a pre-determined period of time.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable medium storing instructions to be implemented by a wireless user device having one or more processors, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless user device to:
 electronically present a discovery mode user interface to a user via a display of the wireless user device;   initiate a discovery scan for one or more PDUs broadcasting PDU discoverability information responsive to receiving input indicating initiation of the discovery scan;   electronically present the one or more PDUs to the user via the display; and   establish communications with a PDU of the one or more PDUs.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the communications with the first wireless user device are established responsive to receiving a selection of the first wireless user device. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless user device to:
 determine that the first wireless user device is the only discoverable device during the discovery scan, and   wherein the communications with the first wireless user device are established responsive to determining that the first wireless user device is the only discoverable device.   
     
     
         14 . A method of displaying power-related information for a power distribution unit (PDU) with a mobile device, comprising:
 optically or wirelessly acquiring, with the mobile device, a hardware address to a wireless module integrated into the PDU,
 wherein the acquiring includes reading a hardware identifier affixed to an electronics rack or affixed to a housing of an electronic appliance; 
   transmitting a wireless request to receive authorization to wirelessly connect to the wireless module of the PDU,
 wherein the wireless request includes the hardware address; 
   receiving, with the mobile device, the power-related information for the PDU,
 wherein the power-related information identifies one or more phases of voltage received by the PDU and identifies the one or more phases of voltage distributed by the PDU to one or more power outlets; and 
   displaying, to a screen of the mobile device, at the power-related information for the PDU.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the hardware identifier includes a quick response (QR) barcode and the hardware address is embedded or encoded into the QR barcode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless module is a Bluetooth module, wherein the QR barcode includes a personal identification number (PIN) for establishing a secure connection between the mobile device and the Bluetooth module. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the hardware identifier includes an adhesive side for attachment to a surface of the electronics rack or the housing of the electronic appliance. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the hardware identifier is a tag that is responsive to electromagnetic radiation, wherein the tag is configured to transmit the hardware address in response to receiving a wireless signal within a predetermined range of frequencies. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless module is a Bluetooth module, wherein the tag is configured to transmit a personal identification number (PIN) for establishing a secure connection between the mobile device and the Bluetooth module. 
     
     
         20 . A power distribution apparatus, comprising:
 a housing having a power input, and a plurality of power outputs;   communications module coupled with the housing comprising a network connection interface and a wireless communications interface; and   a processor coupled with the housing and in communication with the communication module,   wherein the communications module may provide communications between the network processor and a wireless user device via the wireless communications interface.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a printed circuit board located in the housing, and wherein the communications module and processor are mounted to the printed circuit board.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the wireless communications interface comprises an NFC tag in communication with the network processor and configured to provide information from the processor to an NFC enabled user device. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a NFC antenna coupled with the NFC tag and mounted to the exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a tether coupled with the NFC antenna and securable to an NFC enabled user device. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the wireless communications interface comprises a Bluetooth interface in communication with the processor and configured to provide information from the processor to a Bluetooth enabled user device. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a Bluetooth antenna coupled with the Bluetooth interface and an impedance matching circuit coupled with the Bluetooth antenna that limits the range of RF transmissions between the wireless communications interface module and the Bluetooth enabled user device. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the wireless communications interface is configured to provide a communications tunnel between the network processor and an NFC enabled device. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the wireless communications interface 2 provides an interface to a serial data bus located within the housing.