Method and system for end-to-end management of energy efficient networking protocols

• US 9,225,598 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Diab, Wael William
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Brian
• Application Number:
  US13/975,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20130336163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0833 for reduction of network energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for end-to-end management of energy efficient networking protocols are provided. In this regard, a path between two network nodes may be determined and one or more messages may be generated. The one or more messages may be communicated to one or more network nodes along the determined path and may configure an EEN control policy and/or one or more (EEN) parameters in those network nodes. The one or more generated messages may comprise a distinct marking that may, upon detection by the network nodes along the determined path, trigger configuration of the EEN control policy and/or EEN parameters within the one or more network nodes. The one or more messages may be may be utilized to enable and disable EEN in one or more network nodes along the path.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating, by a first network node, a message having a second network node as a destination, the generated message including one or more energy efficient networking parameters for use by an intermediate network node along a path between the first network node and the second network node; and

transmitting, by the first network node, the generated message to an intermediate network node on the path between the first network node and the second network node for configuration of an energy saving operation of the intermediate network node to accommodate application communication between the first network node and the second network node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to enable or disable an energy efficiency feature of the intermediate network node.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to adjust an energy efficiency feature of the intermediate network node that impacts latency of application data communicated between the first network node and the second network node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to adjust an amount of time for the intermediate network node to transition into or out of an energy saving mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to adjust when the intermediate network node can enter into or out of an energy saving mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to adjust an amount of time that the intermediate network node can remain in an energy saving mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to adjust an energy efficiency feature of the intermediate network node that impacts a quality of service of application data communicated between the first network node and the second network node.

8. A first network node, comprising:

a controller configured to generate a message having a second network node as a destination, the generated message including one or more energy efficient networking parameters for use by an intermediate network node along a path between the first network node and the second network node; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the generated message to the intermediate network node on the path between the first network node and the second network node for configuration of an energy saving operation of the intermediate network node to accommodate application communication between the first network node and the second network node.

9. The first network node of claim 8, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to enable or disable an energy efficiency feature of the intermediate network node.

10. The first network node of claim 8, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to adjust an energy efficiency feature of the intermediate network node that impacts latency of application data communicated between the first network node and the second network node.

11. The first network node of claim 8, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to adjust an amount of time for the intermediate network node to transition into or out of an energy saving mode.

12. The first network node of claim 8, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to adjust when the intermediate network node can enter into or out of an energy saving mode.

13. The first network node of claim 8, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to adjust an amount of time that the intermediate network node can remain in an energy saving mode.

14. The first network node of claim 8, wherein the generated message includes information that enables the intermediate network node to adjust an energy efficiency feature of the intermediate network node that impacts a quality of service of application data communicated between the first network node and the second network node.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an intermediate network node, a message generated by a first network node and having a second network node as a destination, the generated message including one or more energy efficient networking parameters for use by an intermediate network node along a path between the first network node and the second network node; and

configuring, by the intermediate network node using the generated message, an energy saving operation of the intermediate network node to accommodate application communication between the first network node and the second network node.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the configuring comprises enabling or disabling an energy efficiency feature of the intermediate network node.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the configuring comprises adjusting an energy efficiency feature of the intermediate network node that impacts latency of application data communicated between the first network node and the second network node.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the configuring comprises adjusting an amount of time for the intermediate network node to transition into or out of an energy saving mode.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the configuring comprises adjusting when the intermediate network node can enter into or exit from an energy saving mode.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the configuring comprises adjusting an amount of time that the intermediate network node can remain in an energy saving mode.