Patent Application
20160242326
The power dissipation of integrated circuit chips, and the modules containing the chips, continues to increase in order to achieve increases in processor performance. This trend continues to pose cooling challenges at the module and system levels.
In many large server applications, processors along with their associated electronics (e.g., memory, disk drives, power supplies, etc.) are packaged in removable drawer configurations stacked within an electronics rack or frame comprising information technology (IT) equipment. In other cases, the electronics may be in fixed locations within the rack or frame. Conventionally, the components have been cooled by air moving in substantially parallel airflow paths, usually front-to-back, impelled by one or more air moving assemblies (e.g., axial or centrifugal fans). In some cases it has been possible to handle increased power dissipation within a single drawer or system by providing greater airflow, for example, through the use of more powerful air moving assemblies or by increasing the rotational speed (i.e., RPMs) of the fan mechanisms. However, this approach is becoming problematic at the different cooling levels. As an enhancement, liquid-cooling is an attractive technology to selectively manage the higher heat fluxes. The liquid absorbs the heat dissipated by the components/modules in an efficient manner. Typically, the heat is ultimately transferred from the liquid coolant to a heat sink, whether air or other liquid-based.
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided in a method of cooling an electronic system. The method includes providing a cooling system, the providing including: providing a coolant circulation loop; providing at least one primary coolant pump coupled to facilitate circulating coolant through the coolant circulation loop; and integrating a fill and drain pump with the cooling system to facilitate selective filling of the cooling system with the coolant, or draining of the coolant from the cooling system, the fill and drain pump being integrated with the cooling system as a backup coolant pump to the at least one primary coolant pump, the fill and drain pump circulating the coolant through the coolant circulation loop responsive to an error in the at least one primary coolant pump.
Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention.
One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference is made below to the drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numbers used throughout different figures designate the same or similar components.
As shown in
In one embodiment, electronics rack 110 may also include, by way of example, one or more bulk power assemblies 204 of an AC to DC power supply assembly. AC to DC power supply assembly further includes, in one embodiment, a frame controller, which may be resident in the bulk power assembly 204 and/or in one or more electronic systems 201. Also illustrated in
In the depicted implementation, a three-phase AC source feeds power via an AC power supply line cord 206 to bulk power assembly 204, which transforms the supplied AC power to an appropriate DC power level for output via distribution cable 207 to the plurality of electronic systems 201 and I/O drawer(s) 205. The number of electronic systems installed in the electronics rack is variable, and depends on customer requirements for a particular system. Note that the particular electronics rack 110 configuration of
Referring first to
As illustrated, the cooling system further includes a heat removal section 350, coupled in fluid communication between return manifold 340 of the pump assembly and coolant supply manifold 310. By way of example, heat removal section 350 includes one or more coolant-to-air heat exchangers with one or more associated fan mechanisms (e.g., axial or centrifugal fans) to facilitate air-cooling of coolant within the heat exchanger(s) by flowing cooled air 300 across heat removal section 350. As used herein, “coolant-to-air heat exchanger” means any heat exchange mechanism characterized as described herein, across which air passes and through which coolant, such as liquid coolant, can circulate; and includes, one or more discrete heat exchangers, coupled either in series or in parallel. A coolant-to-air heat exchanger may comprise, for example, one or more coolant flow paths, formed of thermally conductive tubing (such as copper or other tubing) thermally coupled to a plurality of fins across which air passes. Size, configuration and construction of the coolant-to-air heat exchanger can vary without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed herein.
After passing across heat removal section 350, the heated air egresses from the rack unit as heated air 300′. Note that in an alternate embodiment, the heat removal section could include one or more coolant-to-coolant heat exchangers, or one or more liquid-to-liquid heat exchangers, to reject heat from the coolant circulating through the cooling system. For instance, the heat could be rejected to facility-chilled water where available, rather than to cooled air 300.
In operation, heat generated within the electronic systems 301 is extracted by coolant flowing through (for example) respective cooling structures associated therewith, such as cold plates, and is returned via the coolant-commoning manifold 320 and the active primary coolant pump(s) 335, for example, for rejection of the heat from the coolant to the cooled ambient air 300 passing across the heat exchanger in heat removal section 350. In one implementation, only one primary coolant pump 335 may (depending on the mode) be active at a time, and the coolant pump redundancy allows for, for example, servicing or replacement of an inactive pumping unit from the cooling system, without requiring shut-off of the electronic systems being cooled. By way of specific example, quick connect couplings may be employed, along with appropriately sized and configured hoses to couple, for example, the heat exchanger, cold plates, supply and return manifolds, reservoir and pumping units. Redundant fan mechanisms, such as redundant centrifugal fans, with appropriate, redundant drive cards or controllers, may be mounted to direct cooled air 300 across the heat exchanger(s) of the heat removal section. These controllers may be in communication with a system-level controller (not shown), in one embodiment. In one normal mode implementation, the multiple fan mechanisms may be running at the same time.
Note again that, although described above with reference to one or more coolant-to-air heat exchangers, the cooling system(s) disclosed herein may provide pumped coolant (such as water) for circulation through various types of heat exchange assemblies, including one or more coolant-to-air heat exchangers, one or more coolant-to-coolant heat exchangers, a rack-mounted door heat exchanger, a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, etc. Further, the heat exchange assembly may comprise more than one heat exchanger, including more than one type of heat exchanger, depending upon the implementation. The heat exchange assembly, or more generally, heat removal section, could be within the cooled electronics rack, or positioned remotely from the rack.
In
In one implementation, the above-noted components of the cooled electronic assembly, and in particular, the noted components of the cooling system, may be discrete components obtained, at least in part, as commercially available components. However, implementing the cooling system in this manner may add cost, space, and complexity to the cooling system, as well as to the resultant cooled electronic assembly. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, many of the above-noted structures or functions may be integrated (or combined) within a single, novel, multifunction coolant manifold structure.
For instance, in one embodiment, the multifunction coolant manifold structure may include or provide: a coolant reservoir; one or more coolant level sensors; a coolant expansion region; one or more vacuum breakers to prevent pump cavitation; one or more pressure-relief valves to ensure the cooling system does not over-pressurize; a distribution manifold to distribute coolant to the pumping assembly; a de-aerator facility to remove air and other gasses from the coolant within the cooling system; a coolant-commoning manifold to common exhaust coolant from multiple cooling structures; as well as a fill port for the cooling system. Advantageously, combining components of the cooling system into a single, multipurpose manifold structure saves cost, reduces space, and reduces complexity of the cooling system, as well as of the resultant cooled electronic assembly.
Another significant difference in the assembly configuration of
Generally stated, disclosed herein are cooling systems, cooled electronic assemblies, and methods of fabrication, which include an integrated fill and drain pump. For instance, a cooling system for cooling one or more electronic components may include a coolant circulation loop, at least one primary coolant pump, and a fill and drain pump. The primary coolant pump(s) is coupled to facilitate circulating coolant through the coolant circulation loop, and the fill and drain pump is provided to facilitate selective filling of the cooling system with the coolant, or draining of the coolant from the cooling system. The fill and drain pump is integrated within the cooling system as a backup coolant pump to the at least one primary coolant pump, and the fill and drain pump circulates the coolant through the coolant circulation loop responsive to an error in the at least one primary coolant pump.
In one or more implementations, the primary coolant pump(s) comprises a first type of coolant pump, and the fill and drain pump comprises a second type of coolant pump, different from the first type of coolant pump. For instance, the first type of coolant pump may include or be a centrifugal-type pump or centripetal-type pump, and the second type of pump may be or include a positive displacement-type pump, or more generally, a self-priming-type coolant pump.
In certain implementations, the cooling system further includes a control system which controls the primary coolant pump(s) and the fill and drain pump. The control system automatically activates the fill and drain pump based on detection of the error in the primary coolant pump(s). Additionally, the control system monitors the cooling system during the selective filling of the cooling system with the coolant, and/or monitors the cooling system during the draining of the coolant from the cooling system. In one or more embodiments, the cooling system may include multiple primary coolant pumps coupled to the coolant circulation loop in parallel, and the control system automatically activates the fill and drain pump if an error is detected in each primary coolant pump of the multiple primary coolant pumps.
In another aspect, the cooling system further includes at least one coolant filter associated with the at least one primary coolant pump. The coolant filter(s) may be in or extend into a hose connecting the primary coolant pump(s) in fluid communication with the coolant circulation loop, for instance, at a coolant outlet, or downstream of the coolant outlet, of the primary coolant pump(s). Advantageously, the filter is sized to protect components of the cooling system from debris clogging, either, for instance, within channels of the cooling assemblies associated with the electronic systems, or, for instance, from interfering with quick connect couplings or the vacuum breaker seals.
As noted, in certain implementations, the cooling system includes a control system which automatically monitors the selective filling of, or the selective draining of, the cooling system, by monitoring one or more parameters or aspects of the cooling system during the coolant fill process or a coolant drain process, respectively, of the cooling system using, in part, the fill and drain pump. For instance, the one or more parameters may include one or more of coolant level within the cooling system, current being drawn by the fill and drain pump (indicative of whether coolant or air is passing through the pump), and/or coolant leakage from the cooling system. The control system may automatically issue a warning, or automatically deactivate the fill and drain pump upon detection of an issue with the one or more aspects of the cooling system being monitored during the coolant fill process or the coolant drain process.
In one or more embodiments, the cooling system may further include a heat exchange assembly coupled in fluid communication with the coolant circulation loop to dissipate heat from the coolant passing therethrough. The coolant circulation loop may include a coolant return manifold, or more specifically, a multifunction coolant manifold structure (such as disclosed herein), wherein the primary coolant pump(s) and the fill and drain pump are coupled in parallel-fluid communication between the multifunction coolant manifold structure and the heat exchange assembly. The multifunction coolant manifold structure may be combined with the above-noted implementations of the cooling system and include, in one embodiment, a coolant commoning manifold and an auxiliary coolant reservoir, which may be disposed above and in fluid communication with the coolant commoning manifold. The coolant commoning manifold is sized to slow flow of coolant exhausting from the multiple cooling assemblies to allow gas within the exhausting coolant to escape the coolant within the coolant commoning manifold. The multifunction coolant commoning manifold is configured for the escaping gas (e.g., air bubbles) to rise to the auxiliary coolant reservoir, and be replaced within the coolant commoning manifold by coolant from the auxiliary coolant reservoir.
In certain implementations, the multifunction coolant manifold structure is a single, integrated and rigid structure, where the auxiliary coolant reservoir is integrated with the coolant commoning manifold. In this configuration, the coolant commoning manifold may have a larger dimension in a first direction, such as the vertical direction, compared with that of the auxiliary coolant reservoir, which may have a larger dimension in a second direction, such as the horizontal direction. Thus, in one embodiment, the coolant commoning manifold may be an elongate, vertical manifold, and the auxiliary coolant reservoir may have a larger cross-sectional area in a horizontal direction to accommodate additional coolant.
In one or more other implementations, the auxiliary coolant reservoir may be coupled in fluid communication with the coolant commoning manifold via a detachable coolant conduit or hose. In this configuration, the coolant commoning manifold may have the same size as, or have a larger volume than, the auxiliary coolant reservoir. Alternatively, in one or more implementations, the auxiliary coolant reservoir may have a larger volume of coolant than the coolant commoning manifold. Also note that, in one or more embodiments, the coolant commoning manifold may have a coolant volume twice or larger the size of the coolant volume of the coolant supply manifold of the cooling system.
In one or more embodiments, the multifunction coolant manifold structure may include a detachable, field-replaceable unit, which includes the auxiliary coolant reservoir. Further, the field-replaceable unit may include one or more components for at least one of monitoring and controlling one or more characteristics of the coolant within the multifunction coolant manifold structure, and hence within the cooling system. By way of example, the one or more components may include one or more coolant level sensors (for sensing a level of coolant within the manifold structure); one or more vacuum breakers (to prevent cavitation within the pumping assembly of the cooling system); and/or one or more pressure relief valves (to ensure that the cooling system does not over-pressurize), etc. Advantageously, by associating these components with a field-replaceable unit, the one or more components may be readily removed for servicing or replacement by exchanging out the field-replaceable unit of the multifunction coolant manifold structure. Further, by sizing the coolant commoning manifold as discussed herein, and by locating the field-replaceable unit above the coolant commoning manifold, the field-replaceable unit may be replaced while the cooling system is operational, that is, while coolant continues to be pumped through the cooling system to cool the electronic systems. This can be accomplished, in part, by utilizing quick disconnect couplings in association with the detachable coolant conduit coupling the auxiliary coolant reservoir to the coolant commoning manifold.
By way of example,
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the example of
As illustrated in
Note that
As noted, the upper portion of the multifunction coolant manifold structure is advantageously configured as an auxiliary coolant reservoir. In one or more implementations, the cross-sectional area of the auxiliary coolant reservoir 323′ is larger than the cross-sectional area of the coolant-commoning manifold 320′. In particular, in the depicted implementation, the coolant-commoning manifold 320′ has a larger dimension in a first, vertical direction compared with that of the auxiliary coolant reservoir 323′, but that the auxiliary coolant reservoir 323′ has a larger horizontal dimension in a second direction compared with that of the coolant-commoning manifold 320′. Note that the specific configuration of auxiliary coolant reservoir 323′ is presented by way of example only. The size and configuration of the multifunction coolant manifold structure may depend, in part, on the available size within the associated electronics assembly or electronics rack to which the cooling system provides cooling.
Note also that, in one embodiment, the coolant-commoning manifold 320′ cross-section is made larger than normally required to carry the coolant flow (for instance, 2× or larger) in order to allow the returning, exhausting coolant to slow down, allowing air and other gas in the coolant to de-aerate, or come out of solution, within the coolant-commoning manifold, with any gas bubbles rising to the auxiliary coolant reservoir portion at the top of the manifold structure, while coolant from the reservoir replaces the gas bubbles from the coolant-commoning manifold. Note that the multifunction coolant manifold structure further may incorporate, for example, in association with the auxiliary coolant reservoir, one or more level sensors, to allow the cooling system controller to know the current coolant level state, and take or signal for action, if required.
Additionally, features or connections may be provided in the multifunction coolant manifold structure, such as, in association with the auxiliary coolant reservoir (in one embodiment), to facilitate installing vacuum breakers 325′ and/or pressure-relief devices 326′. The vacuum breaker(s) ensures that the auxiliary coolant reservoir is near atomospheric or slightly negative pressure. This feature may be employed to prevent the pumps from cavitating due to a negative pressure in the system. The pressure-relief valves may be provided as a safety feature. These devices and valves are placed, in one embodiment, in the auxiliary coolant reservoir, at the highest coolant location within the cooling system. This ensures that, even if the devices fail in an open state, no coolant will escape since the coolant is under little or no pressure within the multifunction coolant manifold structure. During normal operation, the devices can fail in place, and not cause any functional problems with the cooling system disclosed herein. The component(s) can also be safely removed while the cooling system is operational. Note that in the embodiment of
Mounting brackets may be provided to facilitate convenient mounting of the coolant supply manifold and multifunction coolant manifold structure into the electronics rack or frame. In one implementation, the multifunction coolant manifold structure is filled with coolant, as is the rest of the cooling system, prior to starting the pumping assembly. The reservoir 323′ is, in one implementation, sized with a sufficient volume of coolant to ensure that if an unfilled cooling structure associated with one of the electronics systems is connected to the cooling system during operation, there will be sufficient coolant within the cooling system to continue operation. Note that in the embodiment presented, a large volume of coolant exists above the multiple parallel-coupled pumps, ensuring a good source of coolant to prime the pumping units.
As shown in the figures, the multifunction coolant manifold structure 400 further includes a coolant distribution manifold portion with coolant distribution connections 507, 507′ (
As noted, in another aspect of the cooling system and cooled electronic assemblies disclosed herein, a fill and drain pump 401 is integrated within the cooling system and disposed, for instance, within cooling system housing 500. In one or more implementations, fill and drain pump 401 is integrated within the cooling system for use during a coolant fill process or a coolant drain process, as well as to operate as a backup coolant pump to the one or more primary coolant pumps. For instance, should an error condition be detected in the primary coolant pump(s) 335′, then the control system of the cooling system may be configured or programmed to automatically activate the fill and drain pump to continue circulating coolant through the coolant circulation loop in a failsafe mode until service personnel may service the cooling system.
By way of example, the primary coolant pumps 335′ may each be or comprise a centrifugal-type pump or centripetal-type pump, and the fill and drain pump 401 may be, for instance, a positive displacement-type pump. Coolant hoses 512′ coupled to fill and drain pump 401 may include quick connect couplings to allow for the different uses of the fill and drain pump described herein, that is, to facilitate a coolant fill process, a coolant drain process, as well as to allow for the fill and drain pump 401 to be coupled as a failsafe pump in parallel-fluid communication with the primary coolant pumps 335′ when the cooled electronic assembly is in normal operation. For instance, in normal operation, the fill and drain pump 401 is coupled in parallel-fluid communication with primary coolant pumps 335′ between multifunction coolant manifold structure 400 and the return manifold at the inlet to heat removal section 350′. In addition, as illustrated in
Note that in the implementation depicted, multiple drive cards 530 are employed, by way of example. Drive cards 530 power and control operation of, for instance, the primary coolant pumps 335′, the fill and drain pump 401, as well as the fan mechanisms 510, as directed, for instance, by the control system of the cooling system.
As explained above, the multifunction coolant manifold structure 400 may include a reservoir 323′ in an upper portion thereof, which includes, for instance, a coolant fill port 328′, redundant upper and lower coolant level sensors 324′, one or more vacuum breakers 325′, and one or more pressure-relief valves 326′. The level sensors provide signals, in one embodiment, to redundant motor drive assemblies 530 controlled by control system 820 of the cooling system. As illustrated, in one embodiment, each motor drive assembly 530 is associated with a respective primary coolant pump 335′. In addition to monitoring the level sensors, the motor drive assemblies 530 also monitor, in one embodiment, system level leak sensors 811 associated, for instance, with a system leak pan 810 disposed in a lower portion of the cooled electronic assembly, as well as monitor redundant temperature sensors 812 associated with the coolant supply manifold 310 to monitor temperature of the cooled coolant being returned to the cooling assemblies associated with electronic systems 301. Control system 820, which may be resident within the cooled electronic assembly or rack, or located elsewhere within a data center comprising the cooled electronic assembly, controls operation of the motor drive assemblies 530, for instance, in accordance with a configured or programmed process, such as described below in connection with
Before describing the control system process embodiment of
As explained above, in operational state, a fill and drain pump 401 is also provided in parallel-fluid communication with the primary coolant pumps 335′, between the multifunction coolant manifold structure 400 and the return or commoning manifold 340′ at the inlet to the heat removal section 350′. By way of example, quick connect couplings 507, 507′, 801 and respective hoses may be used to couple the fill and drain pump 401 in parallel-fluid communication with the primary coolant pump(s) 335′, as shown in
Advantageously, by integrating the fill and drain pump 401 within the cooled electronic assembly, control system 820 of the cooling system may provide additional control and monitoring. For instance, control system 820 may monitor for errors in primary coolant pumps 335′ which would require deactivation of the primary coolant pumps, and in such a case, automatically activate fill and drain pump 401 in a failsafe mode to provide backup coolant flow through the cooling system, possibly at a lower flow rate than the flow rate of coolant provided by primary coolant pump(s) 335′. This will depend on the type of fill and drain pump employed. By employing the fill and drain pump as a backup pump in a coolant flow schematic such as depicted in
Processing inquires whether any “good” primary coolant pump is now showing an error state 836, and if “yes”, the control system marks the errored primary coolant pump as “bad”, and posts an appropriate reference code for the primary coolant pump 838. If no “good” primary coolant pump is showing error, or if so, after the primary coolant pump has been marked “bad”, the control system determines whether one “good” primary coolant pump remains running 840. If “yes”, then processing determines whether an overlap period has expired 842. Note that the overlap period is selected to allow any recently turned on primary coolant pump to speed up and potentially reveal any defects before the previously “bad” state or “good” state primary coolant unit is turned off. This ensures that the next primary coolant pump to operate is functioning well before the present primary coolant pump is turned off. By way of example, an overlap period on the order of ten minutes may be sufficient for this purpose. Note that in one or more embodiments, the control system may perform periodic switch-over processing, where a next “good” primary coolant pump is turned on after the switch-over period has expired, for instance, after a certain number of hours of running If the overlap period has not expired, processing returns to determine whether at least one primary coolant pump is running with no error present 832. Otherwise, the “bad” primary coolant pump is turned off, with the “good” primary coolant pump remaining running, having the shortest “on” timer, that is, any other “good” primary coolant pump(s), in the case of more than two primary coolant pumps, are turned off 844, before processing repeats.
Assuming that more than one “good” primary coolant pump is not currently running 840, then processing determines whether the errored “bad” primary coolant pump is running 846. If “no”, then no action is taken and processing repeats. If “yes”, then the control system determines whether any “good” primary coolant pumps are available 848. If “yes”, a next “good” primary coolant pump is activated 850, meaning that more than one primary coolant pump is currently running 852, and processing returns to determine whether at least one primary coolant pump running has no error present 832.
If no “good” primary coolant pumps are available, then the control system turns on or activates the failsafe, integrated fill and drain pump 854, and posts an integrated fill and drain pump in failsafe reference code 856. This reference code may trigger one or more service processes, such as a service process to be performed by a service technician to repair/service the error states, such as turning off marked “bad” parts and allow their replacement, after which service processes may clear the errors and restore the affected parts to “good” state.
Advantageously, integrating the fill and drain pump within the cooled electronic assembly such as described herein allows for monitoring by the control system of the cooling system during a coolant fill process or a coolant drain process. For instance, during a coolant fill process or coolant drain process, the control system may monitor coolant levels via the level sensors, as well as one or more pump characteristics, such as one or more characteristics of the fill and drain pump, or one or more characteristics of the primary coolant pump(s). In addition, the control system may be used to monitor coolant top-offs and/or filling of one or more field-replaceable units exchanged into the cooling system.
If the sensors indicate the system is not full, then the control system, in one or more embodiments, issues a warning and prompts service personnel to check hose connections and coolant supply level 1025. Note that in one or more embodiments, the coolant fill process is configured ahead of time to ensure that, if working properly, coolant levels should be at the desired system full level upon completion of the timed coolant pumping provided by the fill and drain pump, first primary coolant pump, and second primary coolant pump. Once the warning has been issued and the service personnel has checked hose connections and coolant supply level, then the coolant fill process may be repeated, if desired.
During the coolant fill process, the control system is monitoring for various conditions, which may require automatic action to be taken. For instance, the coolant fill process may be stopped and a warning triggered, should the level sensor change from a wet state to a dry state during the coolant fill process 1030. If “yes”, then the fill and drain pump is deactivated 1032 and a warning is issued 1025. Also, if the fill and drain pump current is decreased during the coolant fill process 1040, the control system automatically deactivates the fill and drain pump 1042 and issues a warning 1025. The fill and drain pump current decreasing may indicate a lack of coolant supply. The control system also monitors the leak sensors and determines whether a coolant leak is detected. If “yes”, the fill and drain pump is deactivated 1052 and the control system may issue a warning and prompt the service personnel to check for leaks 1054.
Referring to
The control aspects present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.
The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.
Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.
Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.
Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that one or more blocks of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.
These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
Although various embodiments are described above, these are only examples. For example, computing environments of other architectures can be used to incorporate and use one or more embodiments. Further, different instructions, instruction formats, instruction fields and/or instruction values may be used. Many variations are possible.
Further, other types of computing environments can benefit and be used. As an example, a data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code is usable that includes at least two processors coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements include, for instance, local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memory which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution.
Input/Output or I/O devices (including, but not limited to, keyboards, displays, pointing devices, DASD, tape, CDs, DVDs, thumb drives and other memory media, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modems, and Ethernet cards are just a few of the available types of network adapters.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of one or more embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain various aspects and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14620476 | Feb 2015 | US |
| Child | 14846894 | US |
