System and method for network enabled wake for networks

• US 9,977,479 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schoening, Charles B., Parello, John D., Ghose, Tirthankar, Ross, Rachel, Imam, Amber
• Primary Examiner(s): Zaman, Faisal M
• Application Number:
  US14/579,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20150113299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 713310, 713324
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections

Abstract

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a message at a network element configured for routing packets, where the message directs a network device to change its power state; identifying the network device as being associated with a network for which the network element has responsibility; and communicating at least a portion of the message from the network element to the network device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a broadcast message indicative of a request to change a power state of at least one network device of a plurality of network devices associated with a domain, the broadcast message including at least one filtering criterion;

comparing the at least one filtering criterion included in the broadcast message with a database of criteria;

determining whether the at least one filtering criterion included in the broadcast message matches a criterion included in the database of criteria;

upon determining that the at least one filtering criterion matches a criterion in the database;

identifying, based on the comparing, particular network devices of the plurality of network devices associated with the domain that are;

(i) capable of switching from a first power state to a second power state, and (ii) associated with the matched criterion; and

communicating the broadcast message to the identified particular network devices indicative of the request to change a power state for at least one of the particular network devices to switch from the first power state to the second power state;

upon determining that the at least one filtering criterion fails to match a criterion in the database;

ignoring the request to change a power state of at least one network device; and

wherein the at least one filtering criterion includes a keyword identifying a common attribute among a subset of the particular network devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast message includes a timer interval for the at least one network device to remain in the second power state.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating a second broadcast message to the particular network devices indicative of a request for the at least one of the particular network devices to switch to the first power state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a discovery mechanism is used in order to identify which of the plurality of network devices are capable of switching from a first power state to a second power state.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one filtering criterion includes an identifier associated with the at least one network device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one filtering criterion includes a power level of the at least one network device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network device includes an endpoint.

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

receiving a broadcast message indicative of a request to change a power state of at least one network device of a plurality of network devices associated with a domain, the broadcast message including at least one filtering criterion;

comparing the at least one filtering criterion included in the broadcast message with a database of criteria;

determining whether the at least one filtering criterion included in the broadcast message matches a criterion included in the database of criteria;

upon determining that the at least one filtering criterion matches a criterion in the database;

identifying, based on the comparing, particular network devices of the plurality of network devices associated with the domain that are;

(i) capable of switching from a first power state to a second power state, and (ii) associated with the matched criterion; and

communicating the broadcast message to the identified particular network devices indicative of the request to change a power state for at least one of the particular network devices to switch from the first power state to the second power state;

upon determining that the at least one filtering criterion fails to match a criterion in the database;

ignoring the request to change a power state of at least one network device; and

wherein the at least one filtering criterion includes a keyword identifying a common attribute among a subset of the particular network devices.

9. The logic of claim 8, wherein the broadcast message includes a timer interval for the at least one network device to remain in the second power state.

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

communicating a second broadcast message to the particular network devices indicative of a request for the at least one of the particular network devices to switch to the first power state.

11. The logic of claim 8, wherein a discovery mechanism is used in order to identify which of the plurality of network devices are capable of switching from a first power state to a second power state.

12. The logic of claim 8, wherein the at least one filtering criterion includes an identifier associated with the at least one network device.

13. The logic of claim 8, wherein the at least one filtering criterion includes a power level of the at least one network device.

14. The logic of claim 8, wherein the at least one network device includes an endpoint.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store electronic code;

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the electronic code; and

a module operable to interface with the processor such that the apparatus is configured for;

receiving a broadcast message indicative of a request to change a power state of at least one network device of a plurality of network devices associated with a domain, the broadcast message including at least one filtering criterion;

comparing the at least one filtering criterion included in the broadcast message with a database of criteria;

determining whether the at least one filtering criterion included in the broadcast message matches a criterion included in the database of criteria;

upon determining that the at least one filtering criterion matches a criterion in the database;

identifying, based on the comparing, particular network devices of the plurality of network devices associated with the domain that are;

(i) capable of switching from a first power state to a second power state, and (ii) associated with the matched criterion; and

communicating the broadcast message to the identified particular network devices indicative of the request to change a power state for at least one of the particular network devices to switch from the first power state to the second power state;

upon determining that the at least one filtering criterion fails to match a criterion in the database;

ignoring the request to change a power state of at least one network device; and

wherein the at least one filtering criterion includes a keyword identifying a common attribute among a subset of the particular network devices.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the broadcast message includes a timer interval for the at least one network device to remain in the second power state.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further configured for:

communicating a second broadcast message to the particular network devices indicative of a request for the at least one of the particular network devices to switch to the first power state.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a discovery mechanism is used in order to identify which of the plurality of network devices are capable of switching from a first power state to a second power state.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one filtering criterion includes an identifier associated with the at least one network device.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one filtering criterion includes a power level of the at least one network device.