Gateway Power Saving via Substitute Relay Tunnel Requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firewalls in communication systems between a cloud server and a device within a local area network (LAN) prevent direct access from the cloud server to the device, necessitating continuous 'KeepAlive' packets to maintain message sessions, which inhibits power-saving modes in communication relay apparatuses, leading to increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A technique where a communication relay apparatus transitions to a power-saving mode by transferring tunnel connection requests through a substitute relay apparatus, allowing it to establish tunnel communication with the cloud server without maintaining active message sessions, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If message sessions are maintained between management server and gateways to allow cloud server access, then cloud server can access devices inside LAN, but power consumption of gateways increases due to continuous KeepAlive packets
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway transmits a substitute request to a substitute gateway before transitioning to power-saving mode. This preliminary action ensures that if tunnel connection requests arrive while the gateway is in power-saving mode, the substitute gateway can forward them to the target gateway, which will then wake up to handle the connections. This resolves the contradiction by preparing the system in advance, allowing the gateway to save power without compromising cloud server access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A substitute gateway acts as an intermediary between the management server and the target gateway that is in power-saving mode. The substitute gateway receives tunnel connection requests from the management server and forwards them to the target gateway, which wakes up upon receiving these requests. This intermediary mechanism allows the target gateway to remain in power-saving mode longer while still maintaining the ability to establish tunnel connections when needed.
2Use of energy by moving object
If gateways transition to power-saving mode to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but tunnel connection establishment may fail if message sessions are not maintained
Solution Approach 1:
Before transitioning to power-saving mode, the gateway sends a substitute request to a substitute gateway. This preliminary action sets up a fallback mechanism that ensures tunnel connection requests can still be received and forwarded even when the gateway is in power-saving mode, preventing connection failures while allowing power savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway dynamically changes its operational state by transitioning between active mode and power-saving mode. When in power-saving mode, it relies on the substitute gateway mechanism. This parameter change (operational state) allows the system to optimize power consumption while maintaining tunnel connection reliability through state-dependent behavior.
3Reliability
If KeepAlive packets are continuously transmitted to maintain message sessions, then cloud server access is enabled, but processor power supply cannot be stopped
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway transmits substitute requests in advance before entering power-saving mode, eliminating the need for continuous KeepAlive packet transmission. This preliminary action allows the gateway to stop processor operations and enter low-power state while still maintaining the ability to establish message sessions when needed, resolving the contradiction between session availability and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous KeepAlive packet transmission, the system uses periodic wake-up triggered by tunnel connection requests forwarded through the substitute gateway. This transforms continuous periodic action into event-driven periodic action, allowing the processor to remain powered off until actually needed, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining message session capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A technique enables appropriate establishment of tunnel communication between a gateway in a power saving mode and a cloud server, as well as a reduction in power consumption. If a management server (50) that has received from the cloud server (70) a request to access a device (10b) has no communication session with a gateway (30b) corresponding to the device (10b), the management server (50) transmits a tunnel connection request to a substitute gateway (30a) via a communication session with the substitute gateway (30a) (step S34). The substitute gateway (30a) transfers the tunnel connection request to the gateway (30b) and causes the gateway (30b) to return from the power saving mode (S39). Then, the gateway (30b) establishes tunnel communication with the cloud server (70) on the basis of the tunnel connection request (S56).