Claims:
1. A system for automatically operating a water pump, said system comprising two self-powered current transformers (CTs) configured to sense two phase currents, said CTs being configured to provide dry run protection to all three phases along with powering up internal circuitry of said system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said two CTs are configured to provide current based protection against faults selected from any or a combination of current unbalance at load side, short circuit, and overload protection.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said two CTs are configured to provide voltage based protection selected from any or a combination of over voltage, under voltage, source side voltage unbalance, single phasing, and phase reversal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said system enables operating said water pump in star-delta or Direct on-line configurations.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein output current of the two CTs is rectified, and using a self-power circuit, provide 12V power supply for relays, and provide 4V power supply for GSM module and main controller.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein current in third phase is derived based on processing of said sensed two phase currents.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is at least partially controller using a mobile computing device by a user through communication with GSM module configured in said system.
, Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a control device for pumps and to a pump apparatus comprising the control device. In particular, it pertains, but not by way of limitation, to a self-powered system that provides a dry run protection using two current transformers (CTs) for automatic operating water pump for Star-Delta and Direct On Line (DOL) starter through a mobile phone.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Most neighborhood gas stations provide a number of fuel pumps each capable of dispensing a variety of fuel grades. But while the gas station may have several fuel dispensers, these stations typically store fuel in only a few underground tanks. Most often the gas station will have only a few tanks for each fuel grade, and these few tanks will provide the fuel for that particular grade to all of the dispensers at the gas station that are capable of dispensing that grade of fuel.
[0004] Because only a few fuel tanks are providing the fuel for a number of dispensers, the pumps which actually draw the fuel out of the tanks are submerged within the fuel in the fuel tank itself. By placing the pumps inside the fuel tank, the overall number of pumps that have to be maintained is reduced. Furthermore, submersing the pump in the fluid itself allows the fuel to cool the pump motor. This allows for the use of higher capacity motors and pumps without requiring additional cooling systems.
[0005] Placing the pump inside the fuel tank has a number of drawbacks, however. Because the tanks are typically located under the pavement of the station, they are not readily accessible for maintenance or monitoring. Furthermore, submersing the pumps in the fuel requires that extra care be taken to prevent electrical malfunctions which could cause sparks or which could cause the pump motor to overheat, either of which may ignite the fuel or damage the pump motor.
[0006] Among the problems encountered most often with submersible pumps is that of dry-run operation. In this situation, the fuel level in the tank has fallen below the pump motor causing the pump motor to operate in the air. Because the cooling for submersible pumps is provided by the fuel itself, operating in the air can cause the motor to overheat. In addition, submersible pump motors are designed to provide optimum performance when they are pumping and operating in fuel, so prolonged dry-run operation can damage the pump motor.
[0007] To address these issues, most submersible pumps include pump controllers that monitor the operation of the pump. Conventional controllers provide monitoring for such operational characteristics as fluid leaks, pump failure, and pump and conduit pressure. These conventional controllers often require the use of sensors to provide the data for the monitored condition. While using sensors inside the pumps to monitor malfunctions can be cost-effective and allow for the monitoring of a wide variety of pumping factors, the life span or durability of these sensors is often far shorter than that of the pump itself. Furthermore, as more sensors are added to the pump to monitor possible malfunctions, the computer equipment required to process the information and relay it to the operator becomes more sophisticated. Finally, these conventional controllers require the operator to manually reset them after each malfunction has been corrected. This lengthens the time the pump is taken off-line as a result of a malfunction, and complicates the repair process for the operator and fuel station owner.
[0008] Further, there are systems available for providing dry run protection using a current transformer for any one phase. Dry running protection, also known as dry-run protection or dry-running protection, is a type of protection mechanism to prevent a rotor, pump or stirrer shaft from operating without any medium added, as the bearing and shaft seal might be damaged if the motor is run while dry. However, these systems uses either auxiliary powered up or voltage powered up system.
[0009] Furthermore, there are systems available in which water pump is controlled through mobile phone. These controllers provide dry run protection and other current based protections. The controller which provides dry run protection uses one current transformer (CT) and the system which provides dry run protections along with other protections uses three CTs. But all these systems are auxiliary powered up or incoming voltage powered up using transformer. They are using CTs only for sensing the pump current.
[0010] What is needed in the industry is a robust pump controller capable of detecting malfunctions and errors that arise during operation, but which does not use fragile sensor equipment and which can reset itself upon correction of the underlying malfunction. Further, there is a need to provide self-powered system that provides a dry run protection using two current transformers (CTs) to automatic operating water pump for Star-Delta and Direct On Line (DOL) starter through a mobile phone.
[0011] All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
[0012] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
[0013] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0014] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
[0015] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

SUMMARY
[0016] The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems associated with conventional pump controllers by providing a new, efficient, technically advanced, self-powered system and method thereof that provides a dry run protection using two current transformers (CTs) to automatic operating water pump for Star-Delta and Direct On Line (DOL) starter through a mobile phone.
[0017] The present disclosure generally relates to a control device for pumps and to a pump apparatus comprising the control device. In particular, it pertains, but not by way of limitation, to a self-powered system that provides a dry run protection using two current transformers (CTs) to automatic operating water pump for Star-Delta and Direct On Line (DOL) starter through a mobile phone.
[0018] Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure provides a system for automatically operating a water pump, said system includes two self-powered current transformers (CTs) configured to sense two phase currents, said CTs being configured to provide dry run protection to all three phases along with powering up internal circuitry of said system.
[0019] In an aspect, the two CTs are configured to provide current based protection against faults selected from any or a combination of current unbalance at load side, short circuit, and overload protection
[0020] In an aspect, the two CTs are configured to provide voltage based protection selected from any or a combination of over voltage, under voltage, source side voltage unbalance, single phasing, and phase reversal.
[0021] In an aspect, the system enables operating said water pump in star-delta or Direct on-line configurations.
[0022] In an aspect, the output current of the two CTs is rectified, and using a self-power circuit, provide 12V power supply for relays, and provide 4V power supply for GSM module and main controller.
[0023] In an aspect, the current in third phase is derived based on processing of said sensed two phase currents.
[0024] In an aspect, the system is at least partially controller using a mobile computing device by a user through communication with GSM module configured in said system.
[0025] In contrast to the existing techniques of controllers, the present invention the provides a automatic system which is self-powered using two nos. of CTs and provides dry run protection to all three phases using these 2 CTs. It also provides other current based protections against faults like current unbalance at load side, short circuit, overload protections and voltage based protections like over voltage, under voltage, source side voltage unbalance, single phasing, phase reversal. This is the complete solution at source side and load side protections.
[0026] In prior art search, it is observed that there are systems providing dry run protection using a current transformer for any one phase. However, these systems uses either auxiliary powered up or voltage powered up system. The present invention provides only two numbers of Current transformers for powering up the whole system and providing dry run protection and other current based protections for all three phases.
[0027] There are prior arts in which water pump is controlled through mobile phone. These controllers provide dry run protection and other current based protections. The controller which provides dry run protection uses one current transformer and the system which provides dry run protections along with other protections uses three CTs. But all these systems are auxiliary powered up or incoming voltage powered up using transformer. They are using current transformers only for sensing the pump current.
[0028] In contrast to this, the present invention uses two current transformers for measurement of all three phase current and to power up the system. The present invention does not need any external potential transformer or auxiliary power supply. Using two current transformers, the present invention measures current in two phases and deriving the third phase current utilizing the proposed mechanism. In this way we are providing current based protections in all three phase.
[0029] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of internal circuitry of the proposed system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary computer system utilized for implementation of the proposed system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0034] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.
[0035] Embodiments of the present invention include various steps, which will be described below. The steps may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with the instructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, and firmware and/or by human operators.
[0036] Embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a computer program product, which may include a machine-readable storage medium tangibly embodying thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform a process. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, fixed (hard) drives, magnetic tape, floppy diskettes, optical disks, compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs), and magneto-optical disks, semiconductor memories, such as ROMs, PROMs, random access memories (RAMs), programmable read-only memories (PROMs), erasable PROMs (EPROMs), electrically erasable PROMs (EEPROMs), flash memory, magnetic or optical cards, or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions (e.g., computer programming code, such as software or firmware).
[0037] Various methods described herein may be practiced by combining one or more machine-readable storage media containing the code according to the present invention with appropriate standard computer hardware to execute the code contained therein. An apparatus for practicing various embodiments of the present invention may involve one or more computers (or one or more processors within a single computer) and storage systems containing or having network access to computer program(s) coded in accordance with various methods described herein, and the method steps of the invention could be accomplished by modules, routines, subroutines, or subparts of a computer program product.
[0038] If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
[0039] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0040] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. These exemplary embodiments are provided only for illustrative purposes and so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. The invention disclosed may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Various modifications will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure). Also, the terminology and phraseology used is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and should not be considered limiting. Thus, the present invention is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed. For purpose of clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
[0041] Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, schematics, illustrations, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems and methods embodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique being selectable by the entity implementing this invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named element.
[0042] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.
[0043] All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
[0044] Various terms as used herein are shown below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.
[0045] The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems associated with conventional pump controllers by providing a new, efficient, technically advanced, self-powered system and method thereof that provides a dry run protection using two current transformers (CTs) to automatic operating water pump for Star-Delta and Direct On Line (DOL) starter through a mobile phone.
[0046] The present disclosure generally relates to a control device for pumps and to a pump apparatus comprising the control device. In particular, it pertains, but not by way of limitation, to a self-powered system that provides a dry run protection using two current transformers (CTs) to automatic operating water pump for Star-Delta and Direct On Line (DOL) starter through a mobile phone.
[0047] Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure provides a system for automatically operating a water pump, said system comprising two self-powered current transformers (CTs) configured to sense two phase currents, said CTs being configured to provide dry run protection to all three phases along with powering up internal circuitry of said system.
[0048] In an aspect, the two CTs are configured to provide current based protection against faults selected from any or a combination of current unbalance at load side, short circuit, and overload protection
[0049] In an aspect, the two CTs are configured to provide voltage based protection selected from any or a combination of over voltage, under voltage, source side voltage unbalance, single phasing, and phase reversal.
[0050] In an aspect, the system enables operating said water pump in star-delta or Direct on-line configurations.
[0051] In an aspect, the output current of the two CTs is rectified, and using a self-power circuit, provide 12V power supply for relays, and provide 4V power supply for GSM module and main controller.
[0052] In an aspect, the current in third phase is derived based on processing of said sensed two phase currents.
[0053] In an aspect, the system is at least partially controller using a mobile computing device by a user through communication with GSM module configured in said system.
[0054] In contrast to the existing techniques of controllers, the present invention provides an automatic system which is self-powered using two nos. of CTs and provides dry run protection to all three phases using these 2 CTs. It also provides other current based protections against faults like current unbalance at load side, short circuit, overload protections and voltage based protections like over voltage, under voltage, source side voltage unbalance, single phasing, phase reversal. This is the complete solution at source side and load side protections.
[0055] In prior art search, it is observed that there are systems providing dry run protection using a current transformer for any one phase. However, these systems uses either auxiliary powered up or voltage powered up system. The present invention provides only two numbers of Current transformers for powering up the whole system and providing dry run protection and other current based protections for all three phases.
[0056] There are prior arts in which water pump is controlled through mobile phone. These controllers provide dry run protection and other current based protections. The controller which provides dry run protection uses one current transformer and the system which provides dry run protections along with other protections uses three CTs. But all these systems are auxiliary powered up or incoming voltage powered up using transformer. They are using current transformers only for sensing the pump current.
[0057] In contrast to this, the present invention uses two current transformers for measurement of all three phase current and to power up the system. The present invention does not need any external potential transformer or auxiliary power supply. Using two current transformers, the present invention measures current in two phases and deriving the third phase current utilizing the proposed mechanism. In this way we are providing current based protections in all three phase.
[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of internal circuitry of the proposed system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, a self-powered system that provides a dry run protection using two current transformers (CTs) for automatic operating water pump for Star-Delta and Direct on Line (DOL) starter through a mobile phone.
[0059] In an embodiment, the present invention provides an automatic system which is self-powered using two nos. of CTs and provides dry run protection to all three phases using these 2 CTs. It also provides other current based protections against faults like current unbalance at load side, short circuit, overload protections and voltage based protections like over voltage, under voltage, source side voltage unbalance, single phasing, phase reversal. This is the complete solution at source side and load side protections.
[0060] In an embodiment, the present invention provides automatic pump controller system which can be controlled through mobile phone and provides Dry run and all current protections along with voltage based protections to pump. It does not need any auxiliary power supply or voltage transformer to power up the internal circuitry.
[0061] In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes two current transformers (110) for sensing two phase currents out of 3 phase currents (104). The same current transformers (110) will be used to power up the internal circuitry of the module (a controller 102) using a self-power circuitry (112). The output current of current transformers (104) is rectified and using self-power circuit (112), and accordingly 12V power supply for Relays and 4V power supply for GSM module (114) and the controller (102) is derived, providing the required VA for GSM module (114) and Relays.
[0062] In an exemplary embodiment, a controller 102 for pump operator continuously monitors the incoming three phase voltages 104 through a voltage sensing means 106 and current 108 of one phase through one or more current transformers (CT) 110.
[0063] In an exemplary embodiment, a current in third phase out of 3 phase currents (104) and the measurement of current in two phases may be derived from firmware algorithm. The present invention does not require a third current transformer for third phase current sensing.
[0064] In an exemplary embodiment, the current sensing method is very reliable and accurate. Based on this sensing the present invention provides dry run protection, current unbalance at load side, overload protection, and short circuit protection.
[0065] In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention enables sensing of incoming three phase voltages also through resistor dividers and provides all voltage based protections like over voltage, under voltage, voltage unbalance at source side, single phasing and phase reversal.
[0066] In an exemplary embodiment, the system 100 includes a GSM module 114 which takes power from incoming voltage 112. The GSM module 114 can include a capability to connect with a GSM network 116 to communicate with other device located at remote location remotely. The GSM module 114 can further include a capability to hold a SIM card 118 which enables to communicate over GSM network. It may be appreciated that, the GSM network is merely used for exemplary purposes; the proposed invention is capable of connecting with any of the existing or further networks providing wireless communication facilities.
[0067] In an exemplary embodiment, the system 100 can further include a LED fault indication unit 122 adapted to provide an indication of an occurrence of any fault in the system. The system 100 can further include a timer setting 120 units which is adapted to set timers associated with one or more performance parameters of the system 100.
[0068] In an exemplary embodiment, the 2 current transformers are used to provide dry run protection and other current based protections in all three phases. The current in third phase will be derived from firmware algorithm. The current transformers which are sensing the incoming currents are used power up the internal circuitry of module. No external transformer or auxiliary power supply is used to power up GSM module and circuitry.
[0069] In contrast to the existing techniques of controllers, the present invention provides an automatic system which is self-powered using two nos. of CTs and provides dry run protection to all three phases using these 2 CTs. It also provides other current based protections against faults like current unbalance at load side, short circuit, overload protections and voltage based protections like over voltage, under voltage, source side voltage unbalance, single phasing, phase reversal. This is the complete solution at source side and load side protections.
[0070] In prior art search, it is observed that there are systems providing dry run protection using a current transformer for any one phase. However, these systems uses either auxiliary powered up or voltage powered up system. The present invention provides only two numbers of Current transformers for powering up the whole system and providing dry run protection and other current based protections for all three phases.
[0071] There are prior arts in which water pump is controlled through mobile phone. These controllers provide dry run protection and other current based protections. The controller which provides dry run protection uses one current transformer and the system which provides dry run protections along with other protections uses three CTs. But all these systems are auxiliary powered up or incoming voltage powered up using transformer. They are using current transformers only for sensing the pump current.
[0072] In contrast to this, the present invention uses two current transformers for measurement of all three phase current and to power up the system. The present invention does not need any external potential transformer or auxiliary power supply. Using two current transformers, the present invention measures current in two phases and deriving the third phase current utilizing the proposed mechanism. In this way we are providing current based protections in all three phase.
[0073] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary computer system utilized for implementation of the proposed system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, present invention can be implemented in the computer system 200 to enable aspects of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure include various steps, which have been described above. A variety of these steps may be performed by hardware components or may be tangibly embodied on a computer-readable storage medium in the form of machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with instructions to perform these steps. Alternatively, the steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. As shown in the figure, computer system 200 includes an external storage device 210, a bus 220, a main memory 230, a read only memory 240, a mass storage device 250, communication port 260, and a processor 270. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that computer system 200 may include more than one processor and communication ports. Examples of processor 270 include, but are not limited to, an Intel® Itanium® or Itanium 2 processor(s), or AMD® Opteron® or Athlon MP® processor(s), Motorola® lines of processors, FortiSOC™ system on a chip processors or other future processors. Processor 270 may include various modules associated with embodiments of the present invention. Communication port 260 can be any of an RS-232 port for use with a modem based dialup connection, a 10/100 Ethernet port, a Gigabit or 10 Gigabit port using copper or fiber, a serial port, a parallel port, or other existing or future ports. Communication port 260 may be chosen depending on a network, such a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or any network to which computer system 200 connects. Memory 230 can be Random Access Memory (RAM), or any other dynamic storage device commonly known in the art. Read only memory 240 can be any static storage device(s) e.g., but not limited to, a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) chips for storing static information e.g., start-up or BIOS instructions for processor 270. Mass storage 250 may be any current or future mass storage solution, which can be used to store information and/or instructions. Exemplary mass storage solutions include, but are not limited to, Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA) or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) hard disk drives or solid-state drives (internal or external, e.g., having Universal Serial Bus (USB) and/or Firewire interfaces), e.g. those available from Seagate (e.g., the Seagate Barracuda 7200 family) or Hitachi (e.g., the Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000), one or more optical discs, Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) storage, e.g. an array of disks (e.g., SATA arrays), available from various vendors including Dot Hill Systems Corp., LaCie, Nexsan Technologies, Inc. and Enhance Technology, Inc. Bus 220 communicatively couples processor(s) 270 with the other memory, storage and communication blocks. Bus 720 can be, e.g. a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) / PCI Extended (PCI-X) bus, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), USB or the like, for connecting expansion cards, drives and other subsystems as well as other buses, such a front side bus (FSB), which connects processor 270 to software system. Optionally, operator and administrative interfaces, e.g. a display, keyboard, and a cursor control device, may also be coupled to bus 220 to support direct operator interaction with computer system 200. Other operator and administrative interfaces can be provided through network connections connected through communication port 260. External storage device 210 can be any kind of external hard-drives, floppy drives, IOMEGA® Zip Drives, Compact Disc - Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disc - Re-Writable (CD-RW), Digital Video Disk - Read Only Memory (DVD-ROM). Components described above are meant only to exemplify various possibilities. In no way should the aforementioned exemplary computer system limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0074] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules and circuits and algorithm steps described herein may be implemented or performed as electronic hardware, software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. It is noted that the configurations may be described as a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.
[0075] When implemented in hardware, various examples may employ a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array signal (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core or any other such configuration.
[0076] When implemented in software, various examples may employ firmware, middleware or microcode. The program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a computer-readable medium or processor-readable medium such as a storage medium or other storage(s). A processor may perform the necessary tasks. A code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.
[0077] As used in this application, the terms "component," "module," "system," and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device can be a component. One or more components can reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate by way of local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systems by way of the signal).
[0078] In one or more examples herein, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium or processor-readable medium. A processor- readable media and/or computer-readable media include both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer- readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium or processor-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and blue-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. Software may comprise a single instruction, or many instructions, and may be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs and across multiple storage media. An exemplary storage medium may be coupled to a processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor.
[0079] One or more of the components, steps, and/or functions illustrated in the Figures may be rearranged and/or combined into a single component, step, or function or embodied in several components, steps, or functions. Additional elements, components, steps, and/or functions may also be added without departing from the invention. The novel algorithms described herein may be efficiently implemented in software and/or embedded hardware.
[0080] Those of skill in the art would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.
[0081] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other or in contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously. Within the context of this document terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are also used euphemistically to mean “communicatively coupled with” over a network, where two or more devices are able to exchange data with each other over the network, possibly via one or more intermediary device.