Access Network Port Power Reduction via Automated Traffic Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Access network devices consume excessive energy due to unused ports being left open, leading to high operation and maintenance costs as current methods require significant human resources to identify and close these ports.

Innovation Solution

An automated method that monitors data traffic at each port, identifies unused ports not saved in the number allocation resource pool, and generates a list to close them, reducing energy consumption and operational costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all user ports are kept open in initial configuration to ensure service availability, then service reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice availabilityVSAvoiddevice energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning port states from static (always open) to dynamic (automatically opening/closing based on real-time service detection). The system continuously monitors service status and adjusts port states accordingly, enabling energy savings while maintaining service availability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service through automated service status detection and port state management. The access device automatically identifies unused ports through service status monitoring and closes them without manual intervention, eliminating the need for manual port management while reducing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Use of energy by moving object

If manual monitoring and closing of unused ports is performed to reduce energy consumption, then energy saving is achieved, but operation and maintenance costs increase due to large human resource input

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice energy consumptionVSAvoidoperation and maintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service through automated service status detection and port state management. The access device automatically identifies unused ports through service status monitoring and closes them without manual intervention, eliminating the need for manual port management while reducing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where service status is continuously monitored and fed back to the port state management module. This closed-loop control enables automatic adjustment of port states based on actual service usage, eliminating manual monitoring while ensuring energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the number allocation resource pool is updated manually to reflect actual service status, then port identification accuracy is improved, but time consumption and operation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveport usage status accuracyVSAvoidtime for manual updates
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes a feedback loop where service status is continuously monitored and fed back to the port state management module. This closed-loop control enables automatic adjustment of port states based on actual service usage, eliminating manual monitoring while ensuring energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by proactively detecting service status changes and preemptively adjusting port states before manual updates would be needed. The automated detection mechanism identifies unused ports in real-time and closes them proactively, eliminating the need for periodic manual resource pool updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3179672B1Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption of network access device
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 ZTE CORP
  • EP3179672B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3179672B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption of an access network device are provided, related to the field of communication technologies in a broadband access network. The method includes the following steps: monitoring data traffic at each port in an access network device; judging whether there are unused ports existing in the access network device according to the monitoring result of the data traffic at each port; if there are unused ports existing in the access network device, determining whether the unused ports are universal ports that are not saved in a number allocation resource pool; and closing the unused universal ports in the access network device when it is determined that the unused ports are universal ports that are not saved in the number allocation resource pool. The abovementioned technical solution can automatically locate unused ports in an access device, generate a list of ports to be closed and close the ports in time, so as to reduce the power consumption of the device, reduce the operation and maintenance costs of the operator, and achieve the objective of energy saving and emission reduction.