System and method for managing power consumption in data propagation environments

• US 8,996,900 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2010
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vetteth, Anoop
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, DENNIS
• Application Number:
  US12/700,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20110191608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks

Abstract

An example method includes communicating a first signal to a remote computer element, the first signal can be used to establish a link between the remote computer element and a local computer element. The method also includes evaluating whether the remote computer element is configured to support a low-power protocol in which low-power IDLE signals are exchanged between the local computer element and the remote computer element, the evaluating occurs using a link layer protocol. In detailed embodiments, the method includes negotiating a wake-up time for the remote computer element to shift from a low-power mode to an active mode. The method can also include evaluating buffer parameters to confirm the wake-up time for the remote computer element to shift to the active mode. In still other embodiments, the method can include delaying a data transmission on the link for at least the wake-up time that was negotiated.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

communicating a first signal to a remote computer element, wherein the first signal can be used to establish a link between the remote computer element and a local computer element;

evaluating, prior to sending any low-power IDLE signals to the remote computer element, whether the remote computer element is configured to support a low-power protocol in which low-power IDLE signals are exchanged between the local computer element and the remote computer element, wherein the evaluating is performed using a data link layer protocol;

causing an upper layer portion of the local computer element to shift to a low-power mode during a period in which low-power IDLE signals are exchanged between the local computer element and the remote computer element;

negotiating a wake-up time for the remote computer element to shift from the low-power mode to an active mode, wherein the negotiating is performed using the data link layer protocol; and

communicating the negotiated wake-up time to the upper layer portion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating buffer parameters in order to confirm the wake-up time for the remote computer element to shift to the active mode.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delaying a data transmission on the link for at least the wake-up time that was negotiated.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that new data should be communicated to the remote computer element; and

communicating a plurality of normal IDLE signals to the remote computer element before sending the new data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the link layer protocol is a data link layer discovery protocol (LLDP), and wherein the communicating further comprises transmitting the first signal to a receiver within the remote computer element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the low-power IDLE signals represent code words for the remote computer element to shift into the low-power mode, and wherein the link is a fiber-optic link.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the low-power IDLE signals to the remote computer element.

8. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory tangible media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising:

communicating a first signal to a remote computer element, wherein the first signal can be used to establish a link between the remote computer element and a local computer element;

evaluating, prior to sending any low-power IDLE signals to the remote computer element, whether the remote computer element is configured to support a low-power protocol in which low-power IDLE signals are exchanged between the local computer element and the remote computer element, wherein the evaluating is performed using a data link layer protocol;

causing an upper layer portion of the local computer element to shift to a low-power mode during a period in which low-power IDLE signals are exchanged between the local computer element and the remote computer element;

negotiating a wake-up time for the remote computer element to shift from the low-power mode to an active mode, wherein the negotiating is performed using the data link layer protocol; and

communicating the negotiated wake-up time to the upper layer portion.

9. The logic of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

evaluating buffer parameters in order to confirm the wake-up time for the remote computer element to shift to the active mode.

10. The logic of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

delaying a data transmission on the link for at least the wake-up time that was negotiated.

11. The logic of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that new data should be communicated to the remote computer element; and

communicating a plurality of normal IDLE signals to the remote computer element before sending the new data.

12. The logic of claim 8, wherein the data link layer protocol is a link layer discovery protocol (LLDP), and wherein the communicating further comprises transmitting the first signal to a receiver within the remote computer element.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store data,

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data, and

an application specific integrated circuit that is resident in a local or element and that is configured to;

communicate a first signal to a remote computer element, wherein the first signal can be used to establish a link between the remote computer element and the local computer element;

evaluate, prior to sending any low-power idle signals to the remote computer element, whether the remote computer element is configured to support a low-power protocol in which low-power IDLE signals are exchanged between the local computer element and the remote computer element, wherein the evaluating is performed using a data link layer protocol;

cause an upper layer portion of the local computer element to shift to a low power mode during a period in which low-power IDLE signals are exchanged between the local computer element and the remote computer element;

negotiate a wake-up time for the remote computer element to shift from a low-power mode to an active mode, wherein the negotiating is performed using the data link layer protocol; and

communicate the negotiated wake-up time to the upper layer portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the application specific integrated circuit is further configured to:

evaluate buffer parameters in order to confirm the wake-up time for the remote computer element to shift to the active mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the application specific integrated circuit is further configured to:

delay a data transmission on the link for at least the wake-up time that was negotiated.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the application specific integrated circuit is further configured to:

determine that new data should be communicated to the remote computer element; and

communicate a plurality of normal IDLE signals to the remote computer element before sending the new data.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit the first signal to a receiver within the remote computer element, wherein the data link layer protocol is a link layer discovery protocol (LLDP).

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transmitter is further configured to communicate the low-power IDLE signals to the remote computer element.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the low-power IDLE signals represent code words for the remote computer element to shift into the low-power mode, and wherein the link is a fiber-optic link.