JPH03233716A - Automatic power controller corresponding to ethernet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically turn on the power supply of a computer connected to an 'Ethernet(R)' at a remote point just by connecting a device which can interprete a power ON command to the computer with no use of a protocol when the power supply of this computer is controlled. CONSTITUTION:An Ethernet 1 is provided together with a computer 2 which instructs the application of a power supply, an automatic power controller 3, and the computers 4a and 4b. The controller 3 contains a CPU, a control ROM, an Ethernet interface, an I/O control mechanism which controls a power switch, and a power plug socket box which turns on a power supply via the I/O control mechanism. The controller 3 is always ket in a power ON state and turns on both computers 4a and 4b when a power ON command is produced from the computer 2. Thus the communication is possible between both computers 4a and 4b. Then a power supply can be automatically applied at a remote point.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION r Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an automatic power-on device compatible with Ethernet.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this kind of device or mechanism for turning on the power of a computer from a remote location has been implemented by monitoring electrical signals of a control signal line of a private line, a public line, or a local area network specified by each company. Therefore, DDX packet network, Ethernet
Interfaces without signal lines, such as ethernet), cannot be applied.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The conventional automatic power control device described above monitors electrical signals and detects whether these signals are turned on when turning on a computer from a remote location using a communication line. For this reason, it has a drawback that it cannot be applied to the case where there is no signal for detecting ON, that is, to Ethernet.

[Means to solve the problem]

The Ethernet compatible automatic power supply control device of the present invention is
In order to make it usable for Ethernet networks, we support the communication protocols necessary for automatic power-on, instead of turning on the power by detecting electrical signals as in the past.
Interprets communication protocols and enables synchronization of network and computer communications.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

1 is an Ethernet network, 2 is a computer that instructs to turn on the power, 3 is the device of the present invention, 4a, 4
Controls the power of computer b.

The automatic power control device 3 is always in a power-on state, and when a command to turn on the power is issued from the computer 2, it turns on the power to the computers 4a and 4b.
Enables communication between 4b and 4b.

Next, a power supply control method will be explained using FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operation of power control between the device of the present invention and the computer.

The computer 1 sends a command to turn on the power to the device 4 of the present invention (■>, the device 4 interprets the power ON command, turns on the power of the computer 2.3, and correctly turns on the computer 2 that issued the power ON command. Send a response indicating that the process has been completed (■).

If the power has not been turned on correctly, this response will be returned along with code data indicating the cause.

Next, FIG. 3 shows the frame format of the power ON command and its response.

Although various communication protocols generally exist on Ethernet, this power control device is defined as one node on the network.

Therefore, it can be realized without depending on the protocol. In other words, by defining a control format for only the power ON command and sending it only to the node address of the power supply control device, this can be realized without affecting communication with other computers.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of this automatic power supply control device.

This automatic power supply control device uses a CPU, and the CPU performs communication control and I/O control.

Programs for performing these controls are stored in the ROM.

This automatic power supply control device turns on the power as explained in Figure 2.
Upon receiving the command, the program in the ROM sends the I/O to the automatic power supply 3 connected to the computer's power supply.
Instruct to turn on the power using the O command.

As a result, the I/O control section turns on the physical switch of the automatic power supply device 3 and turns on the power of the computer. After the computer 2 is powered on correctly, the device returns a response to the node address that sent the power-on command.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention enables controlling the power of a computer connected to Ethernet by connecting a device that can interpret power-on commands to the computer without relying on protocols, which is impossible with conventional methods. Ta. This has the effect of enabling automatic power-on of an Ejhernet-connected computer from a remote location.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a frame format of a power ON command and its response, and FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the functions of the device of the present invention. It is. 2... Computer, 3... Automatic power supply, 4a. 4b... Computer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] When automatically powering on a computer from a remote location using Ethernet, the CPU, control ROM, Ethernet interface, and power supply are required to automatically power on the computer connected to the Ethernet network from a remote location. An Ethernet-compatible automatic power control device that has an I/O control mechanism that controls the switch of the device, and a power outlet box that turns on the power using the I/O control mechanism.