Patent 9482632

Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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As a technical patent analyst, I have searched for US patent 9482632. The patent, titled "Abnormality detection device," was published on November 1, 2016, and granted on the same date, with a filing date of September 4, 2013 [cite: The "Publication date" and "Filing date" fields of US9482632, and "2016-11-01 Application granted" legal event of US9482632]. The current assignee is Cloud Byte LLC [cite: The "Current Assignee" field of US9482632].

The core of US9482632 addresses a problem in accurately detecting cooling function abnormalities in ICT equipment, especially when the operational status (e.g., CPU load) is not constant. Prior art, such as JP2006127283A, did not adequately consider the dynamic operational status of the equipment, leading to inaccurate abnormality detection [cite: The "Background Art" and "Summary" sections of US9482632].

The patent US9482632 primarily claims:

  1. An abnormality detection device comprising a hardware processor with an estimating unit to estimate an upper limit of possible temperatures in a predetermined position when intake air quantity is appropriate, based on operational status and intake-air temperature, which also determine cooling fan rotation speed, and a determining unit to detect an abnormality if a detected temperature exceeds this upper limit.
  2. A device according to claim 1, where the upper limit is estimated lower for a lower utilization rate when intake-air temperature is equal.
  3. A device according to claim 1, including a temperature range storing part for upper limits associated with utilization rates and intake-air temperatures.
  4. A device according to claim 1, also estimating a lower limit and reducing fan rotations when detected temperature is below this lower limit.
  5. A device according to claim 1, where operational status is CPU load.
  6. A device according to claim 1, where operational status is power consumption.
  7. A device according to claim 1, where the temperature sensor detects exhaust air temperature.
  8. ICT equipment incorporating the elements of claim 1.
  9. An abnormality detection method incorporating the steps of claim 1.

The most relevant prior art documents, identified from the examiner-cited references in US9482632 and the explicitly discussed background art (JP2006127283A), are detailed below.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US9482632

  1. JP2006127283A

    • Full Citation: JP2006127283A - Toshiba Corp - Information processing apparatus and its cooling performance detection method
    • Priority Date: 2004-10-29
    • Publication Date: 2006-05-18
    • Brief Description: This prior art describes a technique for detecting cooling abnormalities where intake air temperature and CPU temperature are detected. An allowable temperature, defined for the intake-air temperature, is obtained. The CPU temperature is then compared to this allowable temperature. If the CPU temperature exceeds the allowable temperature, the system checks the cooling fan's rotation speed to differentiate between filter clogging (fan at set speed) and fan failure (fan not at set speed), notifying the user accordingly [cite: The "Description" section of US9482632].
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference anticipates the general concept of detecting cooling abnormalities based on temperature and fan operation. However, it specifically lacks the crucial inventive step of US9482632, which is to factor in the operational status (e.g., CPU load, power consumption) of the ICT equipment to estimate a dynamic upper limit of possible temperatures. Therefore, it likely does not anticipate claims 1, 8, and 9 in their entirety, particularly the clauses requiring estimation based on both operational status and intake-air temperature. Consequently, it also does not anticipate dependent claims (2-7) that build upon this distinction.

  2. US20020135496A1

    • Full Citation: US20020135496A1 - Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Abnormality detection method and protection apparatus
    • Priority Date: 2001-02-01
    • Publication Date: 2002-09-26
    • Brief Description: This patent application discloses an abnormality detection method for a device with multiple fans and temperature sensors. It aims to identify abnormalities like fan stoppage or clogging by comparing detected temperatures with a reference temperature and considering environmental factors. It may also compare actual fan speed to a target fan speed.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this document discusses abnormality detection using temperature sensors and fan monitoring, its abstract and general description do not clearly indicate the dynamic estimation of an "upper limit of possible temperatures" specifically adjusted by the operational status (workload) of the equipment (like CPU load or power consumption), which is a core element of US9482632's independent claims (1, 8, 9). It refers to a "reference temperature" which may be static or adjusted by environmental factors, but not the equipment's internal workload. Thus, it likely does not anticipate claims 1, 8, and 9 entirely.

  3. US20060231639A1

    • Full Citation: US20060231639A1 - Harper Richard E - Thermal modeling and error detection in a data processing configuration
    • Priority Date: 2005-04-14
    • Publication Date: 2006-10-19
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes methods for thermal modeling and error detection in data processing configurations. It involves generating thermal models to predict temperatures based on parameters such as input power, fan speeds, and ambient temperature. Errors are detected by comparing these predicted temperatures with actual temperatures, and degradation in cooling performance can also be detected.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant. It teaches predicting temperatures based on parameters including "input power" (which can correspond to "operational status" like power consumption, as in claim 6 of US9482632) and "ambient temperature" (intake-air temperature). If the "predicted temperatures" derived from the thermal model are understood as, or can be configured to represent, an "upper limit of possible temperatures when a quantity of intake air into the ICT equipment is appropriate," and comparing predicted vs. actual temperatures serves to determine an abnormality, then this document could potentially anticipate claims 1, 6, 8, and 9. Further detailed analysis of the "thermal model" and how "appropriate intake air" conditions are defined would be necessary for a definitive conclusion.

  4. US20070215341A1

    • Full Citation: US20070215341A1 - Fujitsu Limited - Device, cooling function monitoring apparatus, and fan deterioration monitoring program storing medium
    • Priority Date: 2006-03-17
    • Publication Date: 2007-09-20
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a cooling function monitoring apparatus that calculates an expected fan rotation rate under normal operation, considering the actual fan rotation rate and environmental conditions like ambient temperature. It detects fan deterioration or clogging by monitoring deviations between this expected value and the actual fan rotation rate.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference focuses on monitoring fan performance and detecting issues like deterioration or clogging based on fan speed and ambient temperature. It does not explicitly teach estimating an "upper limit of internal equipment temperature" based on the equipment's dynamic operational status (like CPU load) and then using the exceedance of this internal temperature limit as the primary abnormality detection criterion, which is central to US9482632. Its focus is more on fan mechanical health and environmental factors rather than the specific thermal response of the ICT equipment to its internal workload. Thus, it likely does not anticipate claims 1, 5, 6, 8, and 9 in their entirety.

  5. US20080040067A1

    • Full Citation: US20080040067A1 - Paul Douglas Bashor - Method and apparatus for detecting heat sink faults
    • Priority Date: 2006-08-08
    • Publication Date: 2008-02-14
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a method to detect faults in a heat sink assembly by monitoring parameters such as temperature, airflow, or fan speed, and comparing these against expected values or thresholds. It aims to identify suboptimal performance, possibly due to dust buildup or fan failure. Some embodiments discuss using a thermal model based on current power consumption to determine expected performance.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This document is highly relevant due to its mention of a "thermal model based on current power consumption" to determine expected performance. "Power consumption" aligns with the "operational status" of claim 6 of US9482632. If this thermal model's "expected performance" or expected temperature is equivalent to US9482632's "upper limit of possible temperatures when a quantity of intake air is appropriate," and abnormality is determined by deviation, then it could potentially anticipate claims 1, 6, 8, and 9. The exact interplay with "intake-air temperature" for estimating the "upper limit" would need closer examination.

  6. US20090323277A1

    • Full Citation: US20090323277A1 - Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Information Processing Apparatus
    • Priority Date: 2008-06-30
    • Publication Date: 2009-12-31
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes an information processing apparatus that controls fan speed based on detected power consumption and component temperature (e.g., CPU, HDD). It aims to prevent overheating and reduce power consumption, potentially using a thermal model for temperature prediction.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is relevant as it uses "power consumption" (operational status, claim 6) and "component temperature" for fan control. The key distinction from US9482632 lies in whether it explicitly teaches estimating an upper limit of possible temperatures when a quantity of intake air into the ICT equipment is appropriate, based on both operational status and intake-air temperature, and then determining an abnormality specifically when a detected temperature exceeds this estimated upper limit. While it uses relevant input parameters and thermal models for fan control, the specific abnormality detection logic of US9482632 might be distinguishable. It could potentially anticipate the broad idea of using workload and temperature for thermal management but might not fully cover the specific method of abnormality detection claimed in US9482632.

  7. US20100030395A1

    • Full Citation: US20100030395A1 - Susumu Shimotono - Heat Dissipation System for Computers
    • Priority Date: 2008-08-02
    • Publication Date: 2010-02-04
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a heat dissipation system for computers that controls fan speed. It uses a lookup table (map) to store fan speeds corresponding to combinations of intake air temperature and CPU processing load (operational status). Its goal is efficient cooling and power consumption reduction.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it explicitly employs a lookup table using both intake air temperature and CPU processing load (operational status, claim 5) to determine fan speed. This directly relates to the fan speed determination aspect of claims 1, 5, 8, and 9 of US9482632. However, US9482632's core inventive step is the estimation of an upper limit of possible temperatures for abnormality detection when intake air is appropriate, and then comparing detected temperature to this limit. While US20100030395A1 uses a lookup table for fan speeds, it does not explicitly disclose a "temperature range storing part in which the upper limit of the possible temperatures... is recorded in association with each combination of a utilization rate and a temperature of intake air" for abnormality detection, as described in claim 3 of US9482632. Thus, it likely does not anticipate claims 1, 3, 8, and 9 entirely, particularly regarding the specific use of the estimated upper limit for abnormality determination.

  8. US20110057803A1

    • Full Citation: US20110057803A1 - Fujitsu Limited - Temperature predicting apparatus and method
    • Priority Date: 2009-09-04
    • Publication Date: 2011-03-10
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes an apparatus that predicts the internal temperature of an information processing device. It bases this prediction on measured temperatures (e.g., ambient temperature, CPU temperature) and operational states (e.g., CPU load, power consumption). It also includes a learning unit to update the prediction model. The predicted temperature can be utilized for fan control or to detect abnormalities if the actual temperature significantly deviates from the predicted temperature.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This document is very close to US9482632. It teaches predicting "internal temperature" based on "ambient temperature" (intake-air temperature) and "operational states" (CPU load, power consumption), which covers the inputs for claims 1, 5, 6, 8, and 9. It also explicitly mentions using the predicted temperature for "abnormality detection when actual temperature deviates significantly from predicted temperature." The critical distinction for US9482632 would be if its "predicted temperature" is specifically an "upper limit of possible temperatures when a quantity of intake air into the ICT equipment is appropriate," rather than a general point prediction, and if "deviates significantly" unequivocally means "is beyond the upper limit." Claim 2 of US9482632, which specifies estimating a lower upper limit for lower utilization rates, could also represent a potential point of distinction depending on the details of the prediction model in US20110057803A1. This patent has the highest potential to anticipate claims 1, 5, 6, 8, and 9, pending a detailed comparison of the specific estimation and abnormality determination logic.

  9. US20110295443A1

    • Full Citation: US20110295443A1 - Shah Amip J - Managing an infrastructure having a 3d package and cooling resource actuators
    • Priority Date: 2010-05-28
    • Publication Date: 2011-12-01
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes managing thermal conditions within an infrastructure (e.g., a data center server rack). It involves monitoring temperature, power consumption, and operating characteristics, modeling thermal behavior, and adjusting cooling resources (e.g., fan speed) to optimize for performance or power while maintaining desired thermal conditions. It may include predicting future temperatures.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This document deals with thermal management and optimization in a broader infrastructure context. It considers power consumption (operational status, claim 6) and models thermal behavior to adjust cooling resources. While it manages temperature and adjusts cooling based on operational parameters, its focus seems to be on overall infrastructure management rather than the precise abnormality detection mechanism for an individual piece of ICT equipment. It doesn't explicitly detail the estimation of a specific "upper limit of possible temperatures... when a quantity of intake air... is appropriate" for abnormality detection in the manner claimed by US9482632. Therefore, it might not fully anticipate claims 1, 6, 8, and 9.

Generated 5/20/2026, 12:49:32 AM