IGP Link Sleep State Management for Energy Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network management techniques fail to maintain sleep state information across network devices, leading to unnecessary resource consumption and increased carbon footprint during non-peak utilization times by not placing unused links into a sleep state.
Innovation Solution
Network devices identify components to transition into a sleep state, power them down, and provide link sleep state messages to maintain neighbor adjacencies, allowing traffic engineering paths to be placed into a power-aware state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network devices maintain all links in active state to ensure network availability, then network reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic link state management where links can transition between active and sleep states based on traffic conditions. The IGP protocol is extended to dynamically advertise sleep state information and maintain neighbor adjacencies even when links are in sleep state, allowing the network to adapt its energy consumption levels while maintaining availability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter of network links from a static active state to a dynamic state that can switch between active and sleep. The IGP protocol is modified to include sleep state parameters in link state advertisements, enabling network devices to understand and properly handle links in different power states without compromising network reliability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If network devices place unused links into sleep state to conserve energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but network complexity increases due to state management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where network devices continuously monitor link utilization and automatically transition links to sleep state when unused. The IGP protocol provides feedback loops where sleep state information is advertised throughout the network, and path computing entities receive feedback about available capacity in sleeping links, enabling automated energy management without increasing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables network links to self-manage their power state based on traffic conditions. Links automatically transition to sleep state when no traffic is detected and can be awakened when traffic is needed, without requiring manual intervention. The IGP protocol and path computing entities work together to automatically manage the sleep state transitions, reducing the burden on network operators.
3Device complexity
If sleep state information is not maintained across network devices, then protocol simplicity is preserved, but resource conservation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network protocol functionality into distinct layers: the IGP protocol handles sleep state information advertising and neighbor adjacency maintenance, while the traffic engineering protocol handles path computation using the sleep state information. This segmentation allows each protocol to focus on its specific function, maintaining relative simplicity while enabling comprehensive sleep state management across the network.
Data Source
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AI summary
A first network device may identify one or more components to transition to a sleep state, and may power down the one or more components to cause a link with a second network device to be in a sleep state. The first network device may provide, to the second network device, a link sleep state message identifying the link, and may provide updated link sleep state messages to the second network device while the sleep state of the link is maintained.