JPH0498511A - Automatic power control system corresponding to local area network - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically switch on a 10-base/2-Ethernet connection computer at a remote position by connecting a device which can interprete a power ON command to the computer with no use of a protocol. CONSTITUTION:A power ON command given to an automatic power controller 3 from a computer 2 is interpreted, and the computer power supplies 4 and 5 are turned on. Then a response showing a fact that a power supply is correctly applied is sent to the computer 2 produced the power ON command. If the correct application of the power supply is not carried out, the code data showing the relevant factor is returned. In this example, a single node is defined in a network and therefore the power supplies can be turned on regardless of a protocol. In other words, the communication of other computers are not affected as long as a control format of a power command only is defined and sent to only the node address of the controller 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a device that automatically turns on a computer from a remote location using a local area network (hereinafter abbreviated as LAN), and in particular,
This invention relates to a method for automatically turning on the power of a computer connected to ernet (referred to as cheapernet in ATT).

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of method for turning on the power of a computer from a remote location has been implemented by monitoring electrical signals on a control signal line of a dedicated line, public line, or LAN of each manufacturer's proprietary specifications.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The conventional automatic power control device described above uses a communication line from a remote location to turn on the computer by monitoring electrical signals and detecting whether these signals are turned on. .

Therefore, if there is no signal to detect ON, that is, D
The drawback is that it cannot be applied to DX packet networks or LANs such as /Obase2Ethernet.

[Means to solve the problem]

The LAN-compatible automatic power control method of the present invention connects power to a node address via a computer connected to a LAN network.
After receiving the N command and turning on the computer, the communication control unit sends back a response via the computer, and upon receiving the power ON command from the communication control unit, it issues a power ON command to the power switch connected to the computer power supply. and a CPU that has a ROM containing a control program that controls the communication control unit and the I/O control unit. A computer connected to a LAN network is automatically powered on from a remote location using an automatic power control device.

〔Example〕 Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a logical connection diagram of an embodiment of the present invention with a LAN network.

In FIG. 1, a 1Obase2Ethernet network 1 is connected with a computer 2 that instructs to turn on the power, an automatic power control device 3, and a computer power supply 4.

Here, the automatic power control device 3 is always in a power-on state, and when a power-on command is issued from the computer 2, the computer power source 4 is turned on, and the automatic power control device 3
and the computer power supply 4.

Next, the power supply control method will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the procedure for power control between the automatic power control device and the computer.

In FIG. 2, when the computer 2 sends a command to turn on the power to the automatic power control device 3, the automatic power control device 3 interprets the power ON command, turns on the power to the computer power supplies 4 and 5, and issues a power ON command. Sends a response to computer 2 that issued the message indicating that the power was turned on correctly■
do.

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

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a frame format of a power ON command and its response.

Generally, various communication protocols are possible on /Obase2Ethernet, but in the method of this embodiment,
Define it as one node on the network.

Therefore, implementation is possible in a protocol-independent manner. In other words, by defining a control format for only the power supply command as shown in FIG. 3 and transmitting it only to the node address of the automatic power supply control device 3, it can be realized without affecting communications of other computers.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the automatic control device.

In FIG. 4, the automatic power supply control device 3 uses a CPU 11, a communication control section 13, an I/O control section 1, and a CPU II.
4 control is performed.

A program for performing these controls is stored in the ROM 12.

The automatic power supply control device 3 includes a communication control section 13 as shown in FIG.
When a power ON command is received through the ROM 12, the program in the ROM 12 instructs the power switch 6 connected to the computer power supply 4 to turn on the power using an I/O command. As a result, the I/O control unit 14 turns on the physical switch of the power switch 6 and turns on the computer power supply 4.

After correctly turning on the computer power supply 4, the automatic power supply control device 3 returns a response through the communication control unit 13 to the node address that sent the power ON command.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, /Obase2E
When controlling the power of a computer connected to Ethernet, it is possible to connect a device to the computer that can interpret the power-on command regardless of the protocol, which was impossible with conventional methods. /Obase2Etherne
This has the advantage that it is possible to automatically turn on the power of a T-connected computer from a remote location.

Fig. 1 is a logical connection configuration diagram with LAN III according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the power control procedure between the automatic power control device and the computer, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the power ON command and its FIG. 4, which shows the frame format of the response, is a functional block diagram of the automatic control device.

1 ・= /O b as e 2 E t h e
r n e is a network, 2...a computer, 3...
Automatic power supply control device, 4, 5... Computer power supply, 6
...Power switch, 11...CPU, 12...R
OM, 13... Communication control unit, 14... I/O control unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A communication control unit that receives a power ON command to a node address via a computer connected to a local area network, and sends back a response via the computer after the computer is powered on; an I/O control unit that transmits a power ON command to a power switch connected to a computer power supply upon receiving a power ON command from the control unit, and transmits a power ON signal to the communication control unit after the power is turned on; An automatic power supply control device equipped with a CPU having a ROM containing a control program that controls the communication control section and the I/O control section automatically controls a computer connected to a local area network from a remote location. An automatic power control system compatible with local area networks that is characterized by automatically turning on the power.