POWER MANAGEMENT OF PERIODIC TRANSMISSIONS FROM NETWORKING APPLICATIONS

• US 20120281608A1
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Myron Hattig
• Original Assignee: Myron Hattig
• Inventors: Hattig, Myron
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

Methods and apparatus relating to power management of periodic transmissions from networking applications are described. In one embodiment, a periodic transmission manager logic coupled between one or more network applications and one or more network interfaces may control the flow of periodic transmissions from the one or more network applications to the one or more network interfaces. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a periodic transmission manager logic, coupled between one or more applications and one or more network interfaces, to control a power state of the one or more network interfaces; and

the periodic transmission manager logic coupled to a storage unit, wherein the storage unit is to store policy data and wherein the periodic transmission manager logic is to determine, based on the policy data, when periodic transmissions generated by the one or more applications are to be transmitted to the one or more network interfaces to cause a power state change.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communication link to directly transmit non-periodic transmissions generated by the one or more applications to the one or more network interfaces.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage unit is to store data corresponding to one or more of:

the one or more applications or the one or more network interfaces.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more applications comprise one or more of:

a voice over Internet Protocol application, a virtual private networking application, or an instant messenger.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more network interfaces comprise one or more of:

a local area network stack, a wireless local area network stack, or a virtual private networking virtual adapter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage unit is to store a policy database comprising the policy data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage unit is to store a log file comprising data corresponding to operations of the periodic transmission manager logic.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the storage unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is to comprise a plurality of processor cores.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the periodic transmission manager logic is to coordinate transmission of the periodic transmissions, generated by the one or more applications, in a burst to conserve power.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more applications are to comprise one or more of:

a voice over Internet Protocol application, a virtual private networking application, or an instant messenger.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a packet corresponding to a periodic transmission from a application to a network interface;

determining, at a periodic transmission manager logic, whether the packet is to be held for a time period based on stored policy data; and

transmitting the packet to the network interface in response to a determination that the packet is to be transmitted to the network interface to cause a power state change.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determination that the packet is to be transmitted to the network interface is based on an expiration of the time period.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the policy data in storage unit.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising directly transmitting non-periodic transmissions generated by the application to the network interface.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting a timer to indicate when the transmitting the packet to the network interface is to occur.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein adjusting the timer comprises one or more of:

adjusting a wake timer or adjusting a count down timer.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the application is to comprise one or more of:

a voice over Internet Protocol application or an instant messenger.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the network interface is to comprise one or more of:

a local area network stack, a virtual private networking virtual adapter, or a wireless local area network stack.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising the periodic transmission manager logic coordinating transmission of periodic transmissions, generated by one or more applications, in a burst to conserve power.