NETWORK BASED SYSTEM TO CONTROL AND MONITOR POWER CONSUMPTION OF NETWORKED ELEMENTS

• US 20100205471A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Devanagondi, Harish Ramamurthy, Yang, Sheausong, VAVILALA, Krishna Kumar
• Granted Patent: US 8,276,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/00 Data switching networks interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

In an example embodiment, a technique for network based power management for power consuming devices associated with a network. A power control strategy is communicated to network elements coupled to the network. The power control strategy is enforced by the network elements and the network elements report power consumption. Each network element enforces the power strategy relative to the set of power consuming devices operatively associated with the network element. Groups of subtended network elements can manage the power policy in a cluster power management mode or in a collaborative cluster management mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an interface configured to communicate with at least one power consuming device; and

a module in communication with the at least one interface, the module comprising data representative of a power policy, the power policy specifying a constraint on power consumption;

wherein the module is operable to receive power consumption data from the at least one power consuming device via the at least one interface and control an amount of power consumed by the at least one power consuming device.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises a plurality of interfaces comprising a first set of interfaces and a second set of interfaces;

wherein the module is operable to allow devices coupled to the first set of interfaces to consume power up to a first power level and to allow devices coupled to the second set of interfaces to consume power up on a second power level to comply with the power policy.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, a one of the at least one interface is providing power to a power consuming device coupled to the one of the at least one interface;

wherein the module is further operable to limit power consumed by the power consuming device by limiting an amount of power provided to the power consuming device.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the module is further operable to limit the at least one power consuming device'"'"'s access to an associated network responsive to determining the at least one power consuming device is exceeding the constraint.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, wherein the module is further operable to limit the at least one power consuming device'"'"'s access to the associated network by limiting an amount of bandwidth the at least one power consuming device may use to access the associated network.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, wherein the module is further operable to limit the at least one power consuming device'"'"'s access to the associated network by denying access to the associated network.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the data representative of a power policy comprises a first constraint to be applied responsive to a first condition and a second constraint to be applied to a second condition.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein the first condition is a first time period and the second condition is a second time period.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the module is responsive to receiving the power policy to transmit the power policy via the at least one interface to the at least one power consuming device.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the module is further configured to receive data representative of power consumption from the at least one power consuming device via the at least one interface;

wherein the module is configured to communicate with a power management station over a network via the interface; and

wherein the module is responsive to forward the data representative of power consumption to the power management station.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the module is configured to communicate with at least one subtending network element via a one of the at least one interface;

and

wherein the module is operable to operate in a cluster power management mode.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the module is configured to communicate with at least one subtending network element via a one of the at least one interface;

and

wherein the module is operable to operate in a collaborative cluster management mode.

13. A method comprising:

obtaining data representative of a power policy; and

controlling an amount of power consumed by a plurality of power consuming devices responsive to receiving the data representative of a power policy to comply with the power policy;

wherein the power policy comprises a constraint for power consumption and the plurality of devices are controlled so that total power consumed by the plurality of devices does not exceed the constraint.

14. The method set forth in claim 13, further comprising transmitting device power data to the plurality of power consuming devices, the device power data comprising data representative of a maximum power consumption allowed for each of the plurality of power consuming devices.

15. The method set forth in claim 13, controlling the amount of power consumed by the plurality of devices further comprising:

setting a first power consumption limit to a first set of devices coupled to a first set of ports; and

setting a second power consumption limit to a second set of devices coupled to a second set of ports.

16. The method set forth in claim 15, controlling the amount of power consumed by the plurality of devices further comprising transmitting the first power consumption limit to the first set of devices.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface operable to receive data representative of a power policy specifying a power consumption constraint from an associated network; and

logic in communication with the communication interface;

wherein the logic is responsive to receiving the data representative of the power policy to adjust power consumption to comply with the power policy.

18. The apparatus set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

a peripheral in communication with the logic;

wherein the logic is operable to remove power from the peripheral to comply with the power policy.

19. The apparatus set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

a clock circuit having a clock frequency in communication with the logic

wherein the logic is operable to change the clock frequency to comply with the power policy.

20. The apparatus set forth in claim 17, wherein the logic is further configured to provide data representative of an amount of power consumed via the communication interface to a device coupled to the associated network.

21. Software encoded in at least one computer-readable media and when executed operable to:

receiving data representative of power consumption from a plurality of of power consuming devices; and

controlling an amount of power consumed by a plurality of power consuming devices to comply with a power policy;

wherein the power policy comprises a constraint for power consumption and the plurality of devices are controlled so that total power consumed by the plurality of devices does not exceed the constraint.

22. The software set forth in claim 21, further operable to:

setting a first power consumption limit to a first set of devices; and

setting a second power consumption limit to a second set of devices.

23. The software set forth in claim 21, further operable to limit power consumed by the at least one power consuming device by limiting an amount of power provided to the at least one power consuming device.

24. The software set forth in claim 21, further operable to limit the at least one power consuming device'"'"'s access to an associated network responsive to determining the at least one power consuming device is exceeding the constraint.

25. The software set forth in claim 24, further operable to limit the at least one power consuming device'"'"'s access to the associated network by limiting an amount of bandwidth the at least one power consuming device may use to access the associated network.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving data representative of power consumption from a plurality of power consuming devices; and

means for controlling an amount of power consumed by a plurality of power consuming devices to comply with a power policy;

wherein the power policy comprises a constraint for power consumption and the plurality of devices are controlled so that total power consumed by the plurality of devices does not exceed the constraint.

27. The apparatus set forth in claim 26, further comprising:

means for setting a first power consumption limit to a first set of devices; and

means for setting a second power consumption limit to a second set of devices.

28. The apparatus set forth in claim 26, further comprising means for limiting an amount of power provided to the at least one power consuming device.

29. The apparatus set forth in claim 26, further comprising means for limiting the at least one power consuming device'"'"'s access to an associated network responsive to determining the at least one power consuming device is exceeding the constraint.

30. The apparatus set forth in claim 29, the means for limiting further comprising means for limiting an amount of bandwidth the at least one power consuming device may use to access the associated network.