U.S. patent application number 12/763943 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-21 for method and device for monitoring and controlling the operational performance of a computer processor system.
Invention is credited to Karl-Heinz Lettmair, Peter Planki.
Application Number | 20100268997 12/763943 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7920941 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100268997 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Planki; Peter ; et
al. |
October 21, 2010 |
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING THE OPERATIONAL
PERFORMANCE OF A COMPUTER PROCESSOR SYSTEM
Abstract
In order to monitor and control the operational performance of a
computer system or processor system (1), operational parameters of
individual components as well as environmental parameters of the
computer system or processor system (1) are detected. Said
parameters are compared with predetermined limit values. If it is
determined that one or more of the detected operational parameters
and environmental parameters have exceeded or fallen below of the
predetermined limit values, an operational event is determined
based on the limit values that have been exceeded or fallen bellow
of. A reaction is selected from a number of predetermined reaction
patters according to the determined operational event, and a
control command which corresponds to this reaction and which is
provided for altering the operational performance is transmitted to
the computer to be monitored. This enables an early detection of
the occurrence of faults as well as the initiation of an
appropriate measure.
Inventors: |
Planki; Peter; (Gilching,
DE) ; Lettmair; Karl-Heinz; (Stoffen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SONNENSCHEIN NATH & ROSENTHAL LLP
P.O. BOX 061080, WACKER DRIVE STATION, WILLIS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606-1080
US
|
Family ID: |
7920941 |
Appl. No.: |
12/763943 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10070528 |
Dec 2, 2002 |
7702965 |
|
|
12763943 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
714/47.1 ;
714/E11.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 11/3058 20130101;
G06F 2221/2101 20130101; G06F 11/3006 20130101; G06F 1/206
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
714/47 ;
714/E11.02 |
International
Class: |
G06F 11/00 20060101
G06F011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 6, 1999 |
DE |
199 42 430.6 |
Sep 6, 2000 |
DE |
20 2006 013 779.3 |
Sep 7, 2007 |
EP |
PCT/EP00/08704 |
Claims
1. Method for an automated monitoring and controlling the
operational performance of a computer or processor system (1)
comprising the following steps: (a) detecting directly at least one
parameter for a first individual component of the computer or
processor system (1) and at least one parameter for a second
individual component of the computer or processor system, wherein
at least one of said individual components is ancillary to a
processor of the computer or processor system, and wherein said
parameters are parameters that relate to failures of said
individual components; (b) comparing the detected parameters with
predetermined limit values; (c) determining, if predetermined limit
values are exceeded or fallen below of by one or several of said
detected parameters; (d) determining an operational event on basis
of said limit values that have been exceeded or fallen below of or
on basis of a combined evaluation of said limit values; (e)
selecting a reaction corresponding to said determined operational
event from a number of predetermined reaction patterns, wherein
said number of predetermined reaction patterns includes reactions
that control individually each of a plurality of discrete
components being monitored to maintain or prolong the
serviceability of the monitored system and protect to the greatest
possible extent active calculation processes as well as their data
bases and results and to avoid damage to the discrete component
being controlled by a reaction; and (f) transmitting a control
command to alter the operational performance corresponding to said
selected reaction to said computer or processor system (1).
2. Method of claim 1, characterized in that the detected parameters
are absolute measured values as well as the temporal change of said
measured value.
3. Method of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
besides the transmission of the control command corresponding to
the selected reaction also a corresponding information signal is
transmitted.
4. A device for an automated monitoring and controlling the
operational performance of a computer or processor system (I),
comprising: first sensors (3) for detecting directly at least one
parameter for a first individual component of the computer or
processor system (1) and at least one parameter for a second
individual component of the computer or processor system, wherein
at least one of said individual components is ancillary to a
processor of the computer or processor system, and wherein said
parameters are parameters that relate to failures of said
individual components, a monitoring unit (7) for comparing said
detected parameters with limit values stored in a first storage (8)
as well as for detecting, if one or several limit values are being
exceeded or fallen below of, means for generating a determined
operational event message on basis of said limit values that have
been exceeded or fallen below of or on basis of a combined
evaluation of said limit values, and a control unit (9) for
receiving said operational event message as well as for selecting
and transmitting a control command corresponding to said
operational event message to said computer and processor system (1)
from a storage (10) containing a number of predetermined reaction
patterns, wherein said number of predetermined reaction patterns
includes control commands that control a plurality of the
individual components being monitored to maintain or prolong the
serviceability of the monitored system and protect to the greatest
possible extent active calculation processes as well as their data
bases and results and to avoid damage to the discrete component
being controlled by a control command.
5. Device of claim 4, characterized in that said detected
parameters are absolute measured values as well as the temporal
changes of said measured value.
6. Device of claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said device
further comprises an optical or acoustic output means for
outputting a message corresponding to said operational event
message and/or said transmitted control command.
7. Device of claim 4, characterized in that said device comprises a
transmission means (15) for transmitting a message corresponding to
said operational event message and/or to said transmitted control
command.
8. Device of claim 4, characterized in that said device is part of
a computer which is separate from the computer or processor system
(1) to be monitored.
9. Device of claim 5, characterized in that said device comprises a
transmission means (15) for transmitting a message corresponding to
said operational event message and/or to said transmitted control
command.
10. Device of claim 6, characterized in that said device comprises
a transmission means (15) for transmitting a message corresponding
to said operational event message and/or to said transmitted
control command.
11. Device of claim 5, characterized in that said device is part of
a computer which is separate from the computer or processor system
(1) to be monitored.
12. Device of claim 6, characterized in that said device is part of
a computer which is separate from the computer or processor system
(1) to be monitored.
13. Device of claim 7, characterized in that said device is part of
a computer which is separate from the computer or processor system
(1) to be monitored.
14. Device of claim 9, characterized in that said device is part of
a computer which is separate from the computer or processor system
(1) to be monitored.
15. Device of claim 10, characterized in that said device is part
of a computer which is separate from the computer or processor
system (1) to be monitored.
16. Method for an automated monitoring and controlling the
operational performance of a computer or processor system (1)
comprising the following steps: (a) detecting directly at least one
parameter for a first individual component of the computer or
processor system (1) and at least one parameter for a second
individual component of the computer or processor system, wherein
at least one of said individual components is ancillary to a
processor of the computer or processor system, and wherein said
parameters are quantitatively measurable parameters, and wherein
said parameters are parameters that relate to failures of said
individual components; (b) comparing the detected parameters with
predetermined limit values; (c) determining, if predetermined limit
values are exceeded or fallen below of by one or several of said
detected parameters; (d) determining an operational event on basis
of a combined evaluation of said limit values that have been
exceeded or fallen below of; (e) selecting a reaction corresponding
to said determined operational event from a number of predetermined
reaction patterns wherein said number of predetermined reaction
patterns includes reactions that control individually each of a
plurality of discrete components being monitored to maintain or
prolong the serviceability of the monitored system and protect to
the greatest possible extent active calculation processes as well
as their data bases and results and to avoid damage to the discrete
component being controlled by a reaction; and (f) transmitting a
control command to alter the operational performance corresponding
to said selected reaction to said computer or processor system
(1).
17. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the device operates
separately from the computer or processor system monitored by the
device, such that the computer or processor system can be
re-activated by the device after the computer or processor system
has been shut down.
18. Method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said parameters
comprises an operational parameter.
19. Method of claim 18 further comprising the step of detecting at
least one environmental parameter of an environmental
component.
20. Method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said parameters
comprises an environmental parameter.
21. Method for an automated monitoring and controlling the
operational performance of a computer or processor system (1)
comprising the following steps: (a) detecting directly at least two
parameters for an individual component of the computer or processor
system (1), wherein said parameters are parameters that relate to
failures of said individual component; (b) comparing the detected
parameters with predetermined limit values; (c) determining, if
predetermined limit values are exceeded or fallen below of by one
or several of said detected parameters; (d) determining an
operational event on basis of said limit values that have been
exceeded or fallen below of; (e) selecting a reaction corresponding
to said determined operational event from a number of predetermined
reaction patterns, wherein said number of predetermined reaction
patterns includes reactions that control individually each of a
plurality of discrete components being monitored to maintain or
prolong the serviceability of the monitored system and protect to
the greatest possible extent active calculation processes as well
as their data bases and results and to avoid damage to the discrete
component being controlled by a reaction; and (f) transmitting a
control command to alter the operational performance corresponding
to said selected reaction to said computer or processor system (1).
Description
[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
10/070,528 filed Dec. 2, 2002 as a United States National Stage of
Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/EP00/08704 filed Sep.
7, 2007, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 20
2006 013 779.3 filed Sep. 6, 2000 claiming priority to German
Application No. 199 42 430.6 filed Sep. 6, 1999. The
above-referenced applications are hereby incorporated herein by
reference in their entireties.
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and device for
monitoring and controlling the operational performance of a
computer or processor system and a device for accomplishing this
method.
[0003] Serviceability and operational reliability of components,
assembly groups, devices and hence a computer or processor system
as a whole is only protected within certain tolerance zones of
physical values in their environment. These physical values are
particularly temperature, but also air humidity, air flow, freedom
of dust and percussions. Depending upon the field of application of
the system to be monitored, brightness oscillations, chemical
pollutions or other variables may also be of importance. If one or
more of these values lie beyond the predetermined tolerance zones,
this may lead to interferences of the performance of the respective
component, but also to a complete failure thereof. At worst, the
failure of one individual component may lead to a collapse of the
complete system.
[0004] Particularly in case of larger computer or processor
systems, as for example mainframe computers or multiprocessor
systems a continuous and faultless operation is of great importance
and in particular as calculations on these devices often run over a
very long period of time so that a failure of the system at a
certain time probably ruins the work of several days. For this
reason, temperature monitoring systems are known measuring the
temperature at individual components of the system and when
detecting an inadmissibly increased temperature switch off the
respective component, for example, or--in case of a
processor--effect a decrease of performance by mans of reducing the
clock frequency. In particularly critical cases a controlled
shutdown of the complete system is effected.
[0005] It is the main object of the hitherto known monitoring
systems to avoid a sudden collapse of the complete system due to a
previous shutdown of individual components or the controlled
shutdown of the system. This may avoid the loss of data, but often
leads to a drastic reduction of the performance of the complete
system, which often would not be necessary to this extent.
[0006] Hence it is the object of the present invention to provide a
possibility of monitoring and controlling the operational
performance of a computer or processor system, wherein the
influence of a fault on the serviceability of the monitored system
is reduced and the serviceability thereof is maintained or
prolonged in case of controllable incidents. Active calculation
processes as well as their data bases and results are to be
protected to the greatest possible extent.
[0007] This object is solved by the method of claim 1 and the
device of claim 4. According to the inventive method the
operational parameters of individual components of the computer or
processor system to be monitored as well as environmental
parameters thereof are detected in a first step. In a second step
the detected parameters and environmental parameters are compared
with predetermined limit values. Thereby it is detected, if one or
several of said detected operational parameters and environmental
parameters have exceeded or fallen below of said predetermined
limit values. Based upon these limit values that have been exceeded
or fallen below of, a so-called operational event is determined in
a next step, informing how and to which extent the system is
affected by these faults. Then a reaction corresponding to the
afore determined operational event is selected from a number of
predetermined reaction patters and finally a control command for
altering the operational performance corresponding to said reaction
is transmitted to the computer or processor system to be
monitored.
[0008] Hence, according to the invention a reaction is initiated in
dependence upon the kind and intensity of a fault occurring in the
system to be monitored, said reaction avoiding damages of
components, assembly groups, devices and consequently of the
computer or processor system as a whole, which would have occurred
in cased of an unrestricted continuation of the operation. If the
parameters lie beyond tolerable limit values a controlled shutdown
of the complete system may be initiated. Moreover, there is the
possibility of re-activating or running up individual components or
even the complete system, if the fault has been removed or at least
reduced.
[0009] Contrary to the hitherto known solutions for monitoring
computer or processor systems the inventive method guarantees the
continuation of the serviceability of the system with highest
possible efficiency and simultaneous protection of the active
computing processes. This is due to the fact that the individual
components are monitored independently of each other by measuring
sensors and that when predetermined limit values are reached a
complete shutdown of the complete system and hence an interruption
of the running programs does not have to be effected necessarily.
Quite to the contrary, if justifiable, the individual components,
assembly groups or devices are switched off individually or reduced
in their performance, whereby the system as a whole, however,
remains operable. Thereby, the predetermined reaction patters allow
a fault-adequate reaction as well as specific monitoring and
selecting of the individual components.
[0010] It is also an advantage of the present invention that in
contrast t the hitherto known monitoring systems this system
enables a complete monitoring of potential interferences within and
outside the computer or processor system and not only a monitoring
of the temperature. Thus, the interferences of too high air
humidity, too low air flow, of dust or percussions may also be
detected and taken into account. Further, the inventive method may
be applied independent of buses and hence of producers in all kinds
of systems, guaranteeing the highest possible amount of
flexibility. This refers to already existing systems or computer or
processor systems to be still produced.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention the
detected operational parameters or environmental parameters are not
absolutely measured values but also temporal changes of these
measured values. This offers the possibility to meet appropriate
countermeasures. Thus, a very rapid temperature rise of a monitored
component leads to another reaction than a merely moderate rise. It
may furthermore be provided that besides the transmission of the
control command corresponding to a selected reaction also a
corresponding information signal is to be issued in an optical or
acoustic form, in order to inform a service staff as soon as
possible of place and reason of the fault. This information signal
may also be the transmission of a SMS-message.
[0012] The device according to the invention for monitoring and
controlling the operational performance on the one hand comprises
first sensors for detecting operational parameters and on the other
hand second sensors for detecting environmental parameters of the
system. A monitoring unit for comparing the detected operational
and environmental parameters with limit values stored in a first
storage as well as for detecting if one or several of the limit
values have been exceeded or fallen below of, is further provided.
Due to appropriate means an operational event message is generated
on basis of the exceeding or falling below of said limit values and
are transmitted to a control unit, selecting from another storage
containing a number of predetermined reaction patters a control
command corresponding to said operational event message and
transmitting same to said computer or processor system.
[0013] In a further embodiment the inventive device may comprise an
acoustic or optical output means for outputting a message
corresponding to the operational event message and/or the
transmitted control command. Further, a transmitting device for
communicating this message, for example in form of a SMS-message,
may be provided. The independent control of the system is
guaranteed in that the monitoring device is part of a computer
which is separate from the system to be monitored.
[0014] In the following the invention is explained in greater
detail in the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows an inventive device for monitoring a computer
system in a schematic view; and
[0016] FIGS. 2 to 4 show different examples for explaining the
reaction to the temperature rise of a component to be
monitored.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows the monitoring of a mainframe computer 1 by an
inventive monitoring device 2. Thereby, several first sensors 3 are
arranged in said mainframe computer 1, detecting operational
parameters of individual components or assembly groups of said
mainframe computer and transmitting said data via respective lines
4 to said monitoring device 2. Said first sensors 3 are for example
temperature sensors, but also sensors for detecting voltage
fluctuations, percussions or other values which are relevant for
the operation. Besides said first sensors second sensors are
provided for detecting parameters in the environment of said
mainframe computer 1, as for example sensors for detecting chemical
pollutions of the air, dust or smoke, air humidity or in certain
cases also of ionising radiation. These sensors may particularly be
temperature sensors. The measured values detected by said second
sensors are also transmitted via respective lines 6 to said
monitoring device 2.
[0018] The operational and environmental parameters detected by
said first and second sensors 3 and 5 first of all are being
processed in a monitoring unit 7 of said monitoring device 2,
whereby the detected values are compared to limit values, which are
listed in a first memory 8. Thereby, it is not necessary to provide
only one single limit value for each monitored value. Moreover,
preferably several limit values, a lower, a mean as well as an
upper limit value are provided so that it is possible to react
specifically to the occurrence of a fault. When exceeding the lower
limit value, for example, only a slight change of the operational
performance of the computer system is necessary, whereas when the
upper limit value is exceeded, this leads to a shutdown of the
respective component or possibly even of the complete system.
[0019] If one or more of the limit values stored in said first
memory 8 are exceeded or fallen below of, this is detected by said
monitoring unit 7 and a corresponding operational event message is
generated on basis of exceeding or falling below of the limit
values, which then is communicated to said control unit 9. This
operational event message informs about kind and extent of the
fault. In the following the control unit 9 selects one control
command corresponding to the operational event message from a
number of predetermined reaction patterns contained in a second
memory 10, and transmits said control command to the mainframe
computer 1. This control command contains instructions for altering
the operational performance and for example may be the instruction
to shut down individual components or put them into a sleep modus
or to reduce the capacity of the system. Furthermore, also the
command to shut down the complete system may be transmitted.
Thereby, the reaction patterns are chosen such that the mainframe
computer 1 and the programs running thereon may still continue
under the new operational conditions predetermined by said reaction
patterns, if this is justifiable.
[0020] Once the influence of the fault has been successfully
removed or at least reduced, a control command transferred from
said monitoring device 2 to said mainframe computer 11 may contain,
however, to run up the system again and to re-activate components
which have been shut down before. If the monitoring unit has
generated an operational event message or the control unit has
transmitted a control command, simultaneously a respective
information signal may be transmitted to a transmission device 15
via a second output line 14. Then, for example, respective
SMS-messages may be transmitted to the service staff by means of
said transmission device 15. As an alternative there is also the
possibility of applying an optical or acoustic output means instead
of a transmission device.
[0021] Preferably, the complete monitoring device 2 is part of a
computer which is separate from the monitored mainframe computer 1.
The flexibility of the inventive device is guaranteed in that new
limit values and new reaction patters may be inscribed into the two
memories 8 and 10 via input lines 12 and 13. <this provides the
possibility of a reaction to changes in the configuration of the
system to be monitored at any time. This further provides the
possibility of an isolated view not only of the performance of
individual operational or environmental parameters, but to evaluate
them in combination and to react accordingly. A slight temperature
increase of a monitored component, for example, does not
necessarily have to lead to a shutdown of this component, if an
adjacent component shows a clearly increased temperature, as the
reason for the temperature increase of said first component very
likely is to be found in the severe overheating of the adjacent
component. In such a case, it is first sufficient to only shut down
the severely overheated component.
[0022] Based on the example of the monitoring of the temperature
the functioning of the inventive method is to be described in an
exemplary manner in the following. Particularly the temperature
monitoring of the individual components is of increasing importance
as due to the increase of performance and increase of packing
density of the components, demanded by the market and related to
the general development, lead to problems in controlling the
temperature. FIGS. 2 to 4 show the temperature course of a
component be monitored, for example a processor. In the present
example three different limit values, a lower, a mean and an upper
limit value are defined, causing different reactions when being
exceeded or fallen below of. Furthermore, the example shown in
FIGS. 2 to 4 not only refers to the absolute temperature value but
also to the course of time.
[0023] In FIG. 2, for example, a moderate temperature increase is
detected for the monitored time, during the course of which merely
the lower limit value is exceeded. Thus, if the lower limit is
exceeded, first only the performance of the monitored processor is
reduced, for example by reducing the clock frequency. As an
alternative, however, also the performance of a respective
refrigerating set may be increased. If these measures are
successful, the system may be continued to be operated in this mode
until the service staff arrives, who has been informed by a message
transmitted simultaneously by means of the respective control
command. A shutdown of the component or of the complete system is
not necessary in this case.
[0024] In case of a faster temperature rise, as for example shown
in FIG. 3, the afore described measures do not lead to success and
in the course of time also the other two limit values are exceeded.
When the upper limit value is exceeded, at the latest a shutdown of
the monitored processor has become necessary. If, due thereto, the
temperature falls below the predetermined limit values again, the
complete system may be continued to be operated with shutdown
processor until the arrival of the service staff. If, however, the
shutdown of the processor does not lead to a temperature decrease
either--for example within a predetermined time limit--it is safer
to run down the complete system by means of the shutdown procedure,
in order to store the already existing data.
[0025] An abrupt temperature rise, as shown in FIG. 4, however, is
indicative of an extraordinary fault demanding the immediate
shutdown of the complete system in any case. Due to the severe
temperature rise the exceeding of further limit values it is not to
be waited for, but the shutdown is to be initiated immediately.
[0026] The consideration of a time variations of a monitored
parameter may, for example, also be effected by a separate sensor,
exclusively detecting the variations of the monitored values. There
is another possibility in detecting the time points at which
certain limit values are exceeded or fallen below of and, on basis
thereof, drawing a conclusion concerning the time behaviour.
[0027] According to the invention also a number of other values of
measurement besides the temperature may be monitored. Thereby the
respective reaction pattern not only depends upon the measured
value itself, but also on the respective place of measurement. A
number of possible reaction patterns is enlisted in the following
table. Therein GW describes a parameter to be monitored, the
exceeding of which leads to a shutdown of the respective component
or that it is put into a sleep modus. The definition of one single
limit value is sensible in cases where the respective component
either should be fully operating or not operating a all. In other
cases preferably several limit values are defined, i.e. a lower, a
mean and an upper limit value, in order to be able to react in a
graded manner.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE REACTION PATTERNS Measured values Place of
measurement Reaction pattern (exemplary) 1. temperature at the
individual GW: shutdown of the individual component or at a device
component, the device at the air inlet (sleepmodus) outside
computer IGW: reduce system housing in the room performancemGW:
switch off external, e.g. adjacent ventilatoruGW: controlled system
rooms fire-alarm etc. shutdown same as b) fixed to local facts 2.
air humidity at the individual GW: shutdown of the individual
component or at a device component, the device at the air inlet
(sleepmodus) outside computer IGW: reduce system housing in the
room performancemGW: switch off ventilatoruGW: controlled system
shutdown same as b) 3. percussion at the individual GW: shutdown of
the individual (acceleration of component or at a device component,
the device frequency) at the computer housing (sleepmodus) IGW:
rotating devices (e.g. hard disks) shutdownuGW: controlled system
shutdown 4. air flow at the individual GW: shutdown of the
individual component or at a device component, the device at the
air outlet (sleepmodus) IGW: reduce system performanceuGW:
controlled system shutdown 5. dust, smoke, aerosol at the air inlet
IGW: reduce system (e.g. optoelectronical outside computer
performancemGW: switch off measurement) housing in the room
ventilatoruGW: controlled system shutdown same as a) 6. chemical
pollution of at the individual GW: shutdown of the individual the
air (e.g. electrical component or at a device component, the device
conductibility of the air, at the air inlet IGW: reduce system
ph-value) outside computer performancemGW: switch off housing in
the room ventilator uGW: controlled system shutdown same as b) 7.
electro-magnetic-field at the individual GW: shutdown of the
individual component or at a device component, the device outside
computer IGW: reduce system housing in the room performanceuGW:
controlled system shutdown 8. voltage oscillation at the individual
GW: shutdown of the individual component or at a device component,
the device main voltage (in case of no UPS:) IGW: reduce system
performanceuGW: controlled system shutdown 9. brightness
oscillation at the individual (relevant for optoelectronic
(optoelectronic) component or at a device components:)GW: shutdown
of the individual component, the device 10. ionised radiation (X-
at the individual GW: shutdown of the individual ray radiation,
radio- component or at a device component, the device active
radiation) outside computer IGW: reduce system housing in the room
performanceuGW: controlled system shutdown 11. further ./. ./:
measurements to be defined GW = limit value IGW = lower limit value
mGW = mean limit value uGW = upper limit value
[0028] Thereby, the monitoring of temperature is not only possible
at the individual components but for example also at an air intake
channel of the system, outside the system, in a room and in
adjacent rooms. A change of temperature at the air intake channel
may, for example, result in a change of the behaviour of the
ventilator, as may be seen from the table.
[0029] Another parameter which is essential for the operational
behaviour is the air humidity, which again may be detected at the
element itself but also at the air intake channel or outside in the
room. Here, an increased air humidity at the air intake channel may
lead to the fact that first the system performance is reduced or
the ventilator is switched off. Only as the upper limit value is
exceeded, the system has to be shut down in a controlled manner for
safety reasons.
[0030] Percussions occurring inside or outside the system may also
be monitored and therefore rotating elements like disk drives could
be shut down, if justifiable. If, however, the percussions become
too severe, a controlled shutdown of the system is necessary.
Further parameters to be monitored may be the air flow the contents
of dust, smoke or aerosols as well as chemical pollutions of the
air. Again, a simple measure may be to initially shut down the
ventilator. If this does not lead to a success and if an upper
limit value is exceeded, the consequence is a system shutdown.
[0031] Furthermore, the electromagnetic field intensity or voltage
oscillations may be monitored. If optoelectronic components are
used, brightness oscillations may further be taken into account.
Finally, if necessary, the influence of ionising radiation may be
taken into account in order to avoid any incidents.
[0032] It is the object of the inventive method to offer a maximum
amount of flexibility and at the same time to enable an appropriate
reaction to incidents of any kind. This offers the possibility to
keep the system to be monitored operating while maintaining the
largest possible performance.
* * * * *