1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a power apparatus with outlet identification capability and a outlet identification method of power apparatus, the apparatus and method use at least one IP (internet protocol) address and at least one outlet code to enable a PDE (power distribution equipment) to proceed the outlet identification, therefore can identify a plug-in position of at least one powered device.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 8,723,653 entitled “Asset identification and management method and system” disclosed the system has a PDU (power distribution unit), the PDU includes a reader, an optional antenna switch, a plurality of antennas, a power supply and a plurality of electrical outlets; each asset needs a transponder and RFID tag, so as to proceed the identification. The above prior-art needs higher apparatus costs, in particular, as far as a server room having more devices needs much more transponders and RFID tags. Thus, there is a requirement of improvement for the above prior-art.
Moreover, cable distribution of server room is complicated, and it will be not easy to identify, the server room must continuously supply power to devices (e.g., server), and the server room can not break off the power; the electrical outlets did not provide for an indication function in the above prior-art, a repairman can not easy to find out the corrected position of the electrical outlets if any device needs to make a replacement, a repair or a test; maybe the repairman imprudently break off the power of other devices, and the imprudence could cause a unexpected result.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a power apparatus with outlet identification capability comprising at least one PDE (power distribution equipment), the PDE has a plurality of outlets, when the PDE receives an identification requirement, the PDE can driver at least one indicator light to radiate according to the identification requirement, or driver at least one PDE display to show a outlet code according to the identification requirement.
It is therefore another object of the invention to provide an outlet identification method of power apparatus, the method use an identification requirement to enable a PDE to identify a plug-in position of at least one powered device, the method comprising a step 1, setting a plurality of identification datum, each identification data has an IP (internet protocol) address and a plurality of outlet codes; a step 2, performing an outlet identification function of a manager, the manager has a user interface, a plurality of PDEs and the manager can be connected to become a network; a step 3, the manager transmits a network packet, the network packet has an identification requirement, the identification requirement has at least one IP address and at least one outlet code; a step 4, at least one PDE has an IP address which is conformed to the IP address of identification requirement, and the conformed PDE can perform an indication function according to the outlet code of identification requirement, therefore can identify a plug-in position of a powered device.
First advantages of the invention is, user does not need to inquire about an IP address and an outlet code of each powered device, and user can quickly find out a correct plug-in position of at least one powered device, therefore can make a replacement, a repair or a test for the powered device, and prevent to imprudently break off the power of other devices, in particular, the invention can be suitable for a server room, which particularly is a server room having more powered devices and complicated cable.
Second advantages of the invention is, a user interface of the invention is easy to operate, user can click any executing key of the user interface to transform a data to an identification requirement, and transmit the identification requirement to a plurality of PDEs by a network packet manner. Moreover, user can select a data or a plurality of datum, and after that user can click a confirming key of the user interface to transform the selected data (or datum) to an identification requirement, and transmit the identification requirement to a plurality of PDEs by a network packet manner.
Third advantages of the invention is, the user interface has an indication function adjustment option, such as a color adjustment option, a flash switch adjustment option or a flash frequency adjustment option. Thus, user can quickly adjust a radiation mode of an outlet indicator light or a display mode of a PDE display.
Fourth advantages of the invention is, the user interface has a device matrix, each device of the device matrix has at least one corresponding description area to point out a plug-in position of each device, when a cursor is moved to a device of the device matrix, the user interface can display a description area. User can click any device of the device matrix, therefore can transmit a network package of identification requirement to a plurality of PDEs. Thus, user can perform an intuitional management and an intuitional operation.
Fifth advantages of the invention is, the PDE of the invention has a plurality of through holes, each outlet indicator light of each outlet is located on an underside of each through hole, an upside of each through hole can dispose a light guiding element to enhance an effect of outlet identification.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
Examples of the executing manner of the outlet indicator light 211, each outlet indicator light 211 has a corresponding outlet code 163 of at least one outlet indicator light 211; wherein each outlet indicator light 211 is located on a top surface 10 of the PDE 1, each outlet indicator light 211 can be selected from LED (light emitting diode) lamp or a small lamp, each outlet code 163 can be selected from a character code, a numeral code, a mixing code of numeral and character, an array number, such as Outlet No. (x), the value x is in a range from 1 to N.
Examples of the executing manner of the network interface unit 15, the network interface unit 15 can be selected from an Ethernet network interface or an optical fiber network interface; wherein the network interface unit 15 has at least one network port 151; wherein the network port 151 can be selected from a RJ45 network socket or an optical fiber network socket; when the power apparatus of the invention has a plurality of PDE 1, the power apparatus can use a network Hub 4 and a plurality of network cable 40 to connect the network interface units 15 of the PDEs 1 and a manager 5, the manager 5 can be selected from a server computer, a personal computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer or an all-in-one computer.
Examples of an identification manner of the PDEs 1, each top surface 10 of each PDE 1 further a PDE indicator light 191; wherein at least one processor unit 11 of PDE 1 can driver at least one PDE indicator light 191 to radiate according to the IP address 161 of the identification requirement 5a, the PDE indicator light 191 can be selected from LED lamp or a small lamp.
Examples of a stopping manner of the PDEs 1 identification, each PDE 1 has at least one switch SW, therefore can stop the radiation of the outlet indicator light 211 and the PDE indicator light 191, the switch SW can be selected from a rocker switch, a push switch, a toggle switch, a DIP switch or a touch switch.
Referring to
Examples of the executing manner of the user interface 50, the user interface 50 has a data form 51, the data form 51 has a device field, an IP address field and an outlet code field; wherein each data 511 has an executing key 55, user can click any executing key 55 to transform the data 511 to an identification requirement 5a, and the manager 5 will transmit the identification requirement 5a to a plurality of PDEs 1 by a network packet manner.
Examples of a stopping manner of the indication function, the outlet identification method of the invention further comprises a step S5, the manager 5 can perform a function of stopping indication; wherein the user interface 50 has a stop key 56, user can click the stop key 56 to transmit a network packet of stopping requirement 5b to the PDEs 1, the stopping requirement 5b has at least one IP address 161, at least one IP address 161 of PDE 1 is conformed to the IP address 161 of stopping requirement 5b, and the conformed PDE 1 will stop the indication function.
Examples of an adjustment manner of the indication function, the user interface 50 has at least one indication function adjustment option 500; wherein the indication function adjustment option 500 can be selected from a color adjustment option 501, a flash switch adjustment option 502 or a flash frequency adjustment option 503, therefore can quickly adjust a radiation mode of the outlet indicator lights 211 or a display mode of the PDE display 19 by a processor unit 11. Thus, an administrator can assign a replacement task, a repair task or a test task of each powered device 61, a repairman will correctly identify at apparatus site.
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