POWER USAGE REDUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100115082A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pirozzi, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

A computer implemented method includes collecting information from multiple network devices regarding utilization over a predetermined period of time. Unused device resources are identified, along with device resources that may be consolidated. Such identifications are provided to a user for use in consolidating the network to reduce power consumption.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

collecting information from multiple network devices regarding utilization over a predetermined period of time;

identifying unused device resources;

identifying device resources that may be consolidated; and

providing such identifications to a user for use in consolidating the network to reduce power consumption.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information includes port information, board information, power supply information, routing tables and switching tables.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein unused ports are identified by zero throughput or a status of off for the predetermined period of time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein consolidating the network comprises identifying network devices that can be turned off.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein consolidating the network comprises identifying how to transfer utilization from one device to another to reduce power consumption of the network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein consolidating the network comprises identifying devices to consolidate to other devices in order of greatest power consumed.

7. The method of claim 1 and further comprising identifying devices for swapping out with more efficient devices to reduce power consumption of the network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein consolidating the network comprises mapping ports on multiple boards in a device and identifying ports for consolidation to other boards.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying unused device resources comprises checking if a port is physically connected with a status of down, or configured off, or if port throughput increased over the predetermined period of time.

10. A computer implemented method comprising:

collecting information from multiple network devices regarding utilization over a predetermined period of time;

identifying unused device resources;

identifying device resources that may be consolidated by grouping boards by technology type and counting ports that are unavailable or available and determining whether ports may be consolidated to boards on a same device or to a different device;

identifying efficient device that may be exchanged for existing devices by ensuring that the efficient device supports existing device port types at the same speed;

providing such identifications to a user for use in consolidating the network to reduce power consumption.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the collected information includes map routes and switch information from router devices and switch devices.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the information includes port information, board information, power supply information, routing tables and switching tables.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein unused ports are identified by zero throughput or a status of off for the predetermined period of time.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein consolidating the network comprises identifying network devices that can be turned off.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein consolidating the network comprises identifying how to transfer utilization from one device to another to reduce power consumption of the network.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein consolidating the network comprises identifying devices to consolidate to other devices in order of greatest power consumed.

17. The method of claim 10 and further comprising identifying devices for swapping out with more efficient devices to reduce power consumption of the network.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein consolidating the network comprises mapping ports on multiple boards in a device and identifying ports for consolidation to other boards.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein identifying unused device resources comprises checking if a port is physically connected with a status of down, or configured off, or if port throughput increased over the predetermined period of time.

20. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a computer to perform a method comprising:

collecting information from multiple network devices regarding utilization over a predetermined period of time;

identifying unused device resources;

identifying device resources that may be consolidated; and

providing such identifications to a user for use in consolidating the network to reduce power consumption.