JP2007179094A - Information processing apparatus and power consumption control method executed by the information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus for appropriately controlling power consumption using information output from an uninterruptible power supply and a power consumption control method executed in the information processing apparatus.
A UPS-compatible application 10a executed by a server device 1 includes information indicating an uninterruptible state or a power failure state, remaining battery level information, and the like based on power supply information received by a communication unit 11. A log file 10b having power supply information is generated. The power consumption control application 10c executes power consumption control of the server device 1 at the time of a power failure based on the power supply information included in the log file 10b.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus device and a power consumption control method in the information processing apparatus device, for example.

  Conventionally, when a power failure occurs while operating a computer system connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), it shuts down after a certain period of operation or promptly regardless of the remaining capacity of the secondary battery built into the UPS A processing computer system has been developed.

  In this type of computer system, even when the time that can be operated by supplying power from the secondary battery built in the UPS is longer than the power failure time, the shutdown process is performed. That is, the computer system is shut down although it can continue to operate with the power supplied from the secondary battery.

There has been a technique in which a computer system to which a UPS is connected monitors the state of the UPS, and the computer system shuts down or automatically starts according to the UPS state (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-11-202985

  Although the computer system can continue to operate with the power supplied from the secondary battery incorporated in the UPS, the technology for performing the shutdown process makes it impossible to operate the computer system for as long as possible.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that appropriately controls power consumption using information output from an uninterruptible power supply and a power consumption control method that is executed by the information processing apparatus. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is an information processing apparatus that includes a secondary battery and that can be connected to an electronic device that transmits power supply information indicating whether or not a power failure occurs. When the storage unit that stores the power supply information sent from the device and the power supply information stored in the storage unit are information indicating a power failure state, a process of reducing the power consumption of the information processing apparatus is executed. And a control means.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power consumption control method executed by an information processing apparatus, comprising: a secondary battery; and an information processing apparatus connectable to an electronic device that transmits power supply information indicating whether a power failure has occurred. In the power consumption control method to be executed, when the power information sent from the electronic device is stored in a storage unit, and the power information stored in the storage unit is information indicating a power failure state, It is characterized in that processing for reducing the power consumption of the apparatus is executed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus that appropriately controls power consumption using information output from an uninterruptible power supply, and a power consumption control method that is executed by the information processing apparatus. Become.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a server apparatus 1 that is an information processing apparatus and a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) 2 connected to the server apparatus 1.

  The server device 1 is connected to the UPS 2 via the power supply line 4 and the control signal line 5. The UPS 2 is a device that serves as a power source for the server device 1, and particularly a device that serves as a power source for the server device 1 during a power failure.

  The UPS 2 is connected to the commercial power supply 3 via the power supply line 4. The power supply of the server apparatus 1 at the time of an uninterruptible power supply is the commercial power supply 3 supplied via UPS2. On the other hand, the power supply of the server apparatus 1 at the time of a power failure is the secondary battery 21 built in UPS2.

  The UPS 2 incorporates a controller 20. The controller 20 detects the voltage value 22 of the power supply line 4 and determines that there is an uninterruptible state when the detected voltage value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. On the other hand, the controller 20 detects the voltage value 22 of the power supply line 4 and determines that a power failure has occurred when the detected voltage value is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

  When the controller 20 determines that there is an uninterruptible state, the switch 23 is controlled to switch the power supply of the server device 1 to the commercial power supply 3. On the other hand, when the controller 20 determines that the power is interrupted, the switch 23 is controlled to control the server The power source of the device 1 is switched to the secondary battery 21.

  Further, when the controller 20 determines that there is an uninterruptible state, information indicating the uninterruptible state is sent to the server device 1 via the control signal line 5, while when the controller 20 determines that an uninterruptible state, Information indicating a power failure state is sent to the server device 1 via the line 5.

  The controller 20 also sends the remaining amount information of the secondary battery 21 to the server device 1 via the control signal line 5.

  The server device 1 includes a CPU 10, a communication unit 11, a microcomputer 12, a power supply controller 13, and a main memory 14.

  The CPU 10 controls the entire system of the server device 1.

  The communication unit 11 can communicate with the controller 20 included in the UPS 2 via the control signal line 5. The communication unit 11 receives information (hereinafter referred to as power supply information) including information indicating an uninterruptible state or a power failure state, information on the remaining amount of the secondary battery 21, and the like transmitted from the controller 20.

  The power controller 13 receives power supplied from the UPS 2 via the power supply line 4. The power supply controller 13 supplies power to the device group constituting the server device 1.

  The communication unit 11 and the power supply controller 13 are connected to the microcomputer 12.

  The microcomputer 12 is connected to the CPU 10 and the main memory 14 via the system bus. The microcomputer 12 sends the power supply information received by the communication unit 11 to the CPU 10.

  The CPU 10 executes the UPS compatible application 10a developed in the main memory 14. The UPS compatible application 10a generates a log file 10b including power supply information based on the power supply information received by the communication unit 11. The CPU 10 executes the power consumption control application 10 c that is expanded in the main memory 14. The power consumption control application 10c executes power consumption control of the server device 1 based on the power supply information included in the log file 10b.

  For example, when the power information included in the log file 10b changes from information indicating an uninterruptible state to information indicating a power outage state, the power consumption control application 10c shifts the power consumption mode of the server device 1 from the normal mode to the power saving mode. Let Here, the normal mode is a power consumption mode of the server device 1 in a state where the server device 1 is not operating in the power saving mode. The power consumption in the normal mode is larger than the power consumption in the power saving mode.

  The following contents can be considered as the contents of processing performed when the power consumption mode of the server apparatus 1 is shifted from the normal mode to the power saving mode.

  (A) The power consumption control application 10c notifies the operating system to shift to a power saving mode defined by ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface). The operating system controls the devices constituting the server device 1 to operate in the power saving mode.

  (A) The power consumption control application 10c notifies the microcomputer 12 to increase the throttling rate of the CPU 10. The microcomputer 12 performs control to increase the throttling rate of the CPU 10 based on the notification.

  On the other hand, when the power supply information included in the log file 10b changes from information indicating the power failure state to information indicating the uninterruptible power state, the power consumption control application 10c shifts the power consumption mode of the server device 1 from the power saving mode to the normal mode. Let

  The power consumption control application 10c has a timer 10d. The timer 10d counts the time during which the server device 1 is operating with the power supplied from the secondary battery 23d.

  Further, the power consumption control application 10 c sets the power consumption mode of the server device 1. For example, when the server device 1 is operating in the power saving mode, the power saving mode is set as the value of the power consumption mode, and when the server device 1 is operating in the normal mode, the normal mode is set as the value of the power consumption mode. Set. Next, a processing procedure for shutting down the server apparatus 1 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for shutting down the server apparatus 1.

  For example, when the server device 1 is operating in the normal mode when there is no power failure, the CPU 10 calculates the amount of power necessary for shutting down the server device 1 by executing, for example, the power consumption application 10c.

  The power consumption control application 10c determines whether or not the timer 10d has been started (step S101). If the timer 10d has been started (step S101 Yes), the power consumption control application 10c resets the timer 10d (step S102).

  The power consumption control application 10c polls the log file 10b to acquire the power supply information included in the log file 10b (step S103).

  The power consumption control application 10c refers to information indicating the uninterruptible state or the power failure state included in the acquired power supply information, and determines whether or not a power failure has occurred (step S104).

  When the power consumption control application 10c determines that “a power failure has occurred” (step S104 Yes), the power consumption control application 10c determines whether or not the timer 10d is counting the timer (step S105).

  If the timer 10d has not been started (step S105 Yes), the power consumption control application 10c starts the timer count of the timer 10d (step S106).

  The power consumption control application 10c polls the log file 10b to acquire the power supply information included in the log file 10b (step S107).

  The power consumption control application 10c acquires information indicating the remaining amount of the secondary battery 21 included in the acquired power supply information (step S108).

  The power consumption control application 10c uses the information indicating the remaining amount of the secondary battery 21 acquired in step S108 and the amount of power necessary to perform the shutdown processing of the server processing device 1 to use the secondary battery up to immediately before the shutdown. The time that can be operated with the power supply from 21 is calculated (step S109).

  The power consumption control application 10c determines that the shutdown process is started when the value of the time that can be operated by the power supply from the secondary battery 21 immediately before the shutdown calculated in step S109 becomes zero, and the shutdown process is started. (Step S110).

  When the server apparatus 1 is operating in the normal mode in the uninterruptible state and the power consumption control application 10c determines that no power outage has occurred in step S104, the process of steps S101 to S103 is looped.

  If the server apparatus 1 is operating with power supplied from the secondary battery 21 in the power failure state, it is determined in step S104 that no power failure has occurred, that is, the power failure state has been restored to the uninterruptible state. Alternatively, the processing from step S103 to step S110 is looped until it is determined in step S110 that the shutdown processing is performed. According to the method described with reference to FIG. 2, the power consumption of the server apparatus 1 according to the remaining amount of the secondary battery 21 built in the UPS 2 using the power supply information output from the UPS 2 included in the log file 10 b. It is possible to perform appropriate power consumption control such as a shutdown process for reducing the amount to almost zero. Next, a procedure for transitioning to the power saving mode will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure for shifting the server apparatus 1 to the power saving mode.

  The power consumption control application 10c confirms the contents of the set power consumption mode. When the set power consumption mode value is the power saving mode (step S201 Yes), the power consumption mode value is set to the normal mode (step S202).

  The power consumption control application 10c polls the log file 10b to acquire the power supply information included in the log file 10b (step S203).

  The power consumption control application 10c refers to the information indicating the uninterruptible state or the power failure state included in the acquired power supply information, and determines whether or not a power failure has occurred (step S204).

  When the power consumption control application 10c determines that “a power failure has occurred” (step S204 Yes), the power consumption mode value is set to the power saving mode (step S205). The transition process to the power saving mode executed by the power consumption control application 10c after the power consumption control application 10c sets the value of the power consumption mode to the power saving mode is as described with reference to FIG.

  When the server apparatus 1 is operating in the normal mode in the uninterruptible state and the power consumption control application 10c determines that no power failure has occurred in step S204, the processing from step S201 to step S204 is looped.

  Further, when the server apparatus 1 is operating with power supplied from the secondary battery 21 in a power failure state, until it is determined in step S104 that no power failure has occurred, that is, the power failure state has been restored to the uninterruptible state. The process from step S203 to step S204 is looped. According to the method described with reference to FIG. 3, the server apparatus 1 at the time of a power failure according to the remaining amount of the secondary battery 21 built in the UPS 2 using the power supply information output from the UPS 2 included in the log file 10 b. Thus, it is possible to appropriately control the amount of power consumed such as reducing the amount of consumed power from the amount of power consumed during an uninterruptible power failure.

  As described above, the server device 1 uses the power supply information output from the UPS 2 included in the log file 10b to operate the server device 1 in the power saving mode when the power failure occurs, and the secondary battery 21 built in the UPS 2 is used. When it is determined that the server device 1 cannot be operated, it is possible to perform appropriate power consumption control such as performing a shutdown process in which the power consumption is substantially zero.

  In addition, the server apparatus 1 in a power failure state shuts down by calculating, at a predetermined interval, the time that can be operated with the power supplied from the secondary battery 21 built in the UPS 2 using the power supply information output from the UPS 2. Therefore, the operating time of the server device 1 can be secured as much as possible by making use of the remaining amount of the secondary battery 21.

  Further, by configuring the power consumption control application 10c to control the power consumption of the server device 1 using power supply information included in the log file 10b generated by the UPS compatible application 10a, for example, the UPS 2 and the UPS compatible application 10a Regardless of the type (for example, the difference between the manufacturers of the UPS2 and the UPS-compatible application 10a), the server device 1 can execute control at the time of a power failure using the power supply information included in the log file 10a.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

The figure which shows an example of a structure of UPS connected to the server apparatus 1 and the server apparatus. The flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence which shuts down a server apparatus. The figure explaining an example of the transfer processing procedure to the power saving mode of a server apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Server apparatus, 2 ... UPS, 3 ... Commercial power supply, 10 ... CPU, 11 ... Communication part,
12 ... Microcomputer, 13 ... Power controller, 14 ... Main memory,

Claims (9)

In an information processing apparatus that can be connected to an electronic device that includes a secondary battery and sends power information indicating whether or not a power failure occurs,
A storage unit for storing the power supply information transmitted from the electronic device;
When the power supply information stored in the storage unit is information indicating a power failure state, control means for executing processing for reducing the power consumption of the information processing apparatus;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The control means, when the power information stored in the storage unit changes from information indicating a power failure state to information indicating an uninterruptible state, executing a process of increasing power consumption of the information processing apparatus The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The power supply information includes remaining information of the secondary battery, and after the power supply information is changed from information indicating an uninterruptible state to information indicating a power failure state, the secondary battery is based on the remaining amount information of the secondary battery. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a calculation unit configured to calculate an operation time of the information processing apparatus operable by power supplied from a battery. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit executes a shutdown process after the information processing apparatus has been operated for the operation time. An application for reading power supply information stored in the storage unit;
The control means, when the power information read by the application is changed from information indicating an uninterruptible state to information indicating a power outage state, executes a process of reducing the power consumption of the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. In a power consumption control method executed by an information processing apparatus that can be connected to an electronic device that includes a secondary battery and sends power information indicating whether or not a power failure occurs,
Storing the power supply information sent from the electronic device in a storage unit;
When the power information stored in the storage unit is information indicating a power failure state, a process for reducing power consumption of the information processing apparatus is executed. The process for increasing the power consumption of the information processing device is executed when the power information stored in the storage unit changes from information indicating a power failure state to information indicating an uninterruptible power state. 6. The power consumption control method according to 6. The power supply information includes remaining information of the secondary battery, and after the power supply information is changed from information indicating an uninterruptible state to information indicating a power failure state, the secondary battery is based on the remaining amount information of the secondary battery. The power consumption control method according to claim 6, wherein an operation time of the information processing apparatus that can be operated by power supplied from a battery is calculated. The power consumption control method according to claim 8, wherein a shutdown process is executed after the information processing apparatus has been operated for the operation time.

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