Computing Pool Orchestration for Surplus Renewable Energy Use

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to effectively manage and maximize the use of excess energy generated by local renewable energy sources, as energy companies often discard or dissipate this energy rather than efficiently utilizing it for computing resources.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that tracks electrical consumption and forecasts demand to enable computing resources to operate using surplus renewable energy, connecting them to computing pools for efficient energy utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a virtual machine is migrated to a different physical machine, then availability is improved, but network connectivity may be lost due to different broadcast domain identifiers

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveavailabilityVSAvoidnetwork connectivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a network address translator (NAT) device as an intermediary between the virtual machine and the network. This NAT device maintains address translation entries that map the virtual machine's original broadcast domain identifier to a new broadcast domain identifier, enabling the virtual machine to maintain network connectivity while running on a different physical machine with a different broadcast domain identifier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If network address translation is performed for broadcast packets, then network connectivity is maintained, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by treating unicast and broadcast packets differently in the address translation process. For unicast packets, standard address translation is performed. For broadcast packets, the system checks whether the destination broadcast domain identifier matches the virtual machine's current broadcast domain identifier, and only performs translation when there is a mismatch. This selective approach reduces unnecessary processing complexity while maintaining network connectivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If address translation entries are maintained for each virtual machine, then network connectivity is preserved, but memory consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidmemory consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by creating a single address translation entry in the NAT device that can serve multiple virtual machines with the same original broadcast domain identifier. When a virtual machine migrates to a new physical machine, the NAT device updates the existing entry's target broadcast domain identifier rather than creating a new entry. This approach allows one address translation entry to handle multiple virtual machines, significantly reducing memory consumption while preserving network connectivity for all of them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4078483B1Enabling a computing resource of a computing pool
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 FUNDACIO PER A LA UNIV OBERTA DE CATALUNYA
  • EP4078483B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4078483B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4078483B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a method, a system, a storage medium and an orchestrator to enable a computer resource of a computing pool. In particular, the methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure are configured to enable a computing resource (16) of one or more computing pools (17), the computing resource (16) being in communication with a converter (13) of a renewable energy source (12). The methods and apparatuses may be configured to: - tracking an electrical consumption of one or more electrical appliances (14) in communication with the converter; - enabling the computing resource (16) in response to determining a surplus of renewable electrical energy provided by the renewable energy source (12); and to determining that there is computation demand from the one or more computing pools (17); and to determining that an estimated efficiency of use of the renewable energy is greater when responding to the demand of the one or more computing pools (17) than when injecting the renewable energy into an electrical grid (11) in communication with the converter (13).