Energy Saving at a Network Node in an Automation Network
First Claim
1. A method for saving energy at a network node in an automation network, the method comprising:
- receiving energy saving command data for switching at least one network device of network devices connected to network ports at the network node to an energy saving state in which the at least one network device consumes less energy than in an operating state;
forwarding the energy saving command data to the at least one network device;
evaluating the energy saving command data by the network node; and
switching at least a portion of the network node to an energy saving state to save energy at the network node, the network node at least one of receiving and outputting one of no data and a reduced volume of data to the at least one network device when the at least one network node is in the energy saving state;
wherein the at least one portion of the network node to be switched to the energy saving sate is determined based on network ports associated with the at least one network device in the energy saving state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for saving energy at a network node in an automation network comprising receiving energy saving command data for switching at least one network device to an energy saving state, forwarding the energy saving command data to the network device, evaluating the energy saving command data by the network node, and saving energy at the network node. When the network node receives and/or outputs no data or a reduced volume of data to the network device during the energy saving state, the energy saving is effected by placing at least one portion of the network node into an energy saving state, where the portion is determined by any one of a plurality of network ports, which, because of the energy saving state of the network device, is being used to output and/or receive no data or a reduced volume of data.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for saving energy at a network node in an automation network, the method comprising:
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receiving energy saving command data for switching at least one network device of network devices connected to network ports at the network node to an energy saving state in which the at least one network device consumes less energy than in an operating state; forwarding the energy saving command data to the at least one network device; evaluating the energy saving command data by the network node; and switching at least a portion of the network node to an energy saving state to save energy at the network node, the network node at least one of receiving and outputting one of no data and a reduced volume of data to the at least one network device when the at least one network node is in the energy saving state; wherein the at least one portion of the network node to be switched to the energy saving sate is determined based on network ports associated with the at least one network device in the energy saving state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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6. The method as claimed in claims, further comprising:
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receiving energy saving termination command data through a network port of the network ports, the energy saving termination command data, when received by the at least one network device, switching said at least one network device to the operating state with increased energy intake in comparison with the energy saving state; evaluating the energy saving termination command data by the network node; and re-switching on the network node which has at least partially been switched to the energy saving state; forwarding the energy saving termination command data to the at least one network device.
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12. A network node for an automation network, comprising:
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network ports configured to receive energy saving command data for switching at least one network device to an energy saving state in which the at least one network device consumes less energy in than in an operating state; and a process and memory configured to forward the energy saving command data to the at least one network device, evaluate the energy saving command data, and save energy at the network node by switching at least a portion of the network node to an energy savings state; wherein the network node at least one of receives and outputs one of no data and a reduced volume of data to the at least one network device when in the energy saving state; and the at least a portion of the network node to be switched to the energy saving state being determined based on network ports associated with the at least one network device in the energy saving state. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A process in which a computer executes instructions set forth in a computer program executing on a processor which, when used on the computer cause the processor to save energy at a network node in an automation network, the computer program comprising:
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program code for receiving energy saving command data for switching at least one network device of network devices connected to network ports at the network node to an energy saving state in which the at least one network device consumes less energy than in an operating state; program code for forwarding the energy saving command data to the at least one network device; program code for evaluating the energy saving command data by the network node; and program code for switching at least a portion of the network node to an energy saving state for saving energy at the network node, the network node at least one of receiving and outputting one of no data and a reduced volume of data to the at least one network device when the at least one network node is in the energy saving state; wherein the at least one portion of the network node to be switched to the energy saving sate is determined based on the ones of the network ports associated with the at least one network device in the energy saving state.
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Specification