Enhanced buffer-batch management for energy efficient networking based on a power mode of a network interface
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a host device including a network interface configure to transmit packets from the host device to another device via a network, the network interface being configured to transition to a low power mode transparent to an operating system on the host device; and
circuitry configured to;
monitor host device requests to transmit one or more packets from the host device to the network;
estimate, when a request is received to transmit one or more packets from the host device, whether the network interface is in the low power mode based on whether a predetermined amount of time has passed since a previous communication was transmitted from the host device to the network via the network interface and without performing any communication over an interface that directly connects a system on the host device to the network interface;
buffer the one or more packets in memory of the host device based at least partially on the host device network interface being estimated to be in a low power mode;
initiate transition of the host device network interface to a full power mode based at least in part upon predefined criteria associated with the buffered packets; and
control transmission of the buffered packets to the network to begin when the host device network interface enters the full power mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various methods and systems are provided for buffer-batch management for energy efficient networking. In one embodiment, among others, a system includes a host device including an interface with a network. A device driver monitors requests to transmit packets from the host device to the network, buffers the packets in memory of the host device when the host device network interface is estimated to be in a low power mode, and initiates transition of the host device network interface to a full power mode based at least in part upon predefined criteria associated with the buffered packets. The host device network interface may begin transmission of the buffered packets when the host device network interface enters the full power mode. The host device network interface may be a network interface controller such as, e.g., an Ethernet controller configured for Energy Efficient Ethernet operation.
16 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a host device including a network interface configure to transmit packets from the host device to another device via a network, the network interface being configured to transition to a low power mode transparent to an operating system on the host device; and circuitry configured to; monitor host device requests to transmit one or more packets from the host device to the network; estimate, when a request is received to transmit one or more packets from the host device, whether the network interface is in the low power mode based on whether a predetermined amount of time has passed since a previous communication was transmitted from the host device to the network via the network interface and without performing any communication over an interface that directly connects a system on the host device to the network interface; buffer the one or more packets in memory of the host device based at least partially on the host device network interface being estimated to be in a low power mode; initiate transition of the host device network interface to a full power mode based at least in part upon predefined criteria associated with the buffered packets; and control transmission of the buffered packets to the network to begin when the host device network interface enters the full power mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
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9. A system, comprising:
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a host device including a network interface controller (NIC), the NIC being configured to transition to a low power mode transparent to an operating system on the host device; and circuitry configured to; monitor host device requests to transmit one or more packets from the host device to another device on a network through the NIC; estimate, when a request is received to transmit one or more packets from the host device, whether the NIC is in a low power mode based on whether a predetermined amount of time has passed since a previous communication was transmitted from the host device to the network via NIC and without performing any communication over an interface that directly connects a system on the host device to the NIC; buffer the one or more packets in memory of the host device based at least partially on the NIC being estimated to be in a low power mode; initiate transition of the NIC to a full power mode based at least in part upon predefined criteria associated with the buffered packets; and control the NIC to begin transmission of the buffered packets to the NIC when the NIC enters the full power mode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method, comprising:
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estimating, when a request is received to transmit one or more packets from a host device, a power state of a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIE) core of a network interface controller (NIC) on the host device based on whether a predetermined amount of time has passed since a previous communication was transmitted from the host device to a network via the NIC, the NIC being configured to transition to a low power mode transparent to an operating system on the host device, and the estimating being performed without performing any communication over the PCIE core that directly connects a system on the host device to the NIC; buffering, in memory external to the NIC, one or more packets for transmission to the network based at least partially on the PCIE core being estimated as operating in a low power state; initiating transition of the PCIE core to full power state based at least in part upon predefined criteria associated with the one or more buffered packets; and initiating transfer of the one or more buffered packets to the NIC for transmission when the PCIE core reaches the full power state. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification