Method and Apparatus For Reducing Power Consumption in a Telecommunication Network

• US 20120147768A1
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: MEIROSU, Catalin, JOHNSSON, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,811,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0833 for reduction of network energy consumption

Abstract

A method that reduces the power consumption on network nodes by taking into account the services that need to be supported by the network and the power saving capabilities of the nodes.

Claims

1. A network node with a power conserving capability, the network node comprising:

a network interface for transmitting and receiving data; and

a data processing system coupled to the network interface, the data processing system being configured such that, in response to the network node receiving a particular message, the data processing system performs a process comprising;

(a) determining a utilization of a component of the network node and (b) causing the power state of the component of the network node to be modified based on the determined utilization of the component and a received power policy.

2. The network node of claim 1, wherein the particular message is a resource reservation request message transmitted from another network node, the resource reservation request message including information identifying a data flow and a desired quality of service for the data flow.

3. The network node of claim 1, wherein the power policy maps different power states to different utilization values.

4. The network node of claim 3, wherein the data processing system is configured to perform step (b) by:

(i) determining a value representing the utilization of the component,

(ii) using the power policy to determine a power state to which the determined utilization value is mapped, and

(iii) causing the power state of the component to be set to the determined power state.

5. The network node of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the utilization of the components comprises determining the amount of resources the component is using or the amount of resources that have been reserved for use.

6. The network node of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises:

(c) determining a utilization of a second component of the network node; and

(b) causing the power state of the second component of the network node to be modified based on the determined utilization of the second component and the received power policy.

7. The network node of claim 6, wherein the first component is an interface of the network node and the second component is a routing or switch module.

8. A method for conserving power in a network comprising a network node, comprising:

(a) receiving, by the network node, a power policy;

(b) determining a utilization of a component of the network node; and

(c) modifying the power state of the component of the network node based on the determined utilization of the component and the received power policy.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein

the method further comprises, receiving by the network node, a particular message transmitted from another network node, and

the steps (b) and (c) are performed in response to the network node receiving the particular message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the particular message is a resource reservation request message transmitted from another network node, the resource reservation request message identifying a data flow and a desired quality of service for the data flow.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the power policy maps different power states to different utilization values.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein step (b) comprises:

(bi) determining a value representing the utilization of the component,

(bii) using the power policy to determine a power state to which the determined utilization value is mapped, and

(biii) causing the power state of the component to be set to the determined power state.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining the utilization of the components comprises determining the amount of resources the component is using or the amount of resources that have been reserved for use.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

(c) determining a utilization of a second component of the network node; and

(b) causing the power state of the second component of the network node to be modified based on the determined utilization of the second component and the received power policy, wherein steps (c) and (d) are also performed in response to the network node receiving the particular message.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first component is an interface of the network node and the second component is a routing or switch module.