Inter-Base Workload Migration for Renewable-Powered Data Centers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data center systems face challenges in efficiently managing workloads to optimize renewable energy utilization and power demand, particularly due to the instability of renewable energy sources and the limitations of interactive workloads, which cannot be delayed, leading to difficulties in spatial and temporal control.

Innovation Solution

A data center system and method that enables spatial control of workloads between bases and temporal control within a base, considering non-migratable time ranges to adjust power demand, using a base management computer and inter-base workload control system to manage workload allocation and relocation based on renewable energy supply and demand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If workload migration between DC bases is restricted to non-migratable time ranges, then service continuity and user experience are maintained, but renewable energy utilization ratio cannot be optimized during these periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidrenewable energy utilization ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The workload migration control is segmented into two independent control targets: spatial migration (between DC bases) and temporal migration (within the same DC base). This segmentation allows the system to apply different migration strategies to different workloads based on their characteristics, enabling optimization of renewable energy utilization while maintaining service continuity for critical workloads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts workload migration strategies based on real-time conditions. For workloads with non-migratable time ranges, the system uses temporal migration within the same DC base to adjust execution timing, while for migratable workloads, it uses spatial migration between DC bases. This dynamic approach optimizes renewable energy utilization without compromising service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If temporal control is applied to batch jobs, then renewable energy utilization is improved by delaying execution, but processing time and productivity are affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverenewable energy utilization ratioVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different control strategies to different types of workloads based on their local characteristics. Batch jobs, which can tolerate delays, are subject to temporal migration to optimize renewable energy utilization. Interactive workloads, which require real-time processing, are excluded from temporal migration and maintained with their original execution timing, thus preserving service quality and user experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Use of energy by moving object

If spatial control is applied to migrate workloads between DC bases, then renewable energy utilization is optimized, but system complexity and migration overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverenewable energy utilization ratioVSAvoidworkload migration management
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The workload migration control system performs multiple functions through a unified framework: it handles both spatial migration (between DC bases) and temporal migration (within the same base), and accommodates both migratable and non-migratable workloads. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating control logic rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each migration type.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4468114B1Data center system, inter-base workload control method, and inter-base workload control system
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 HITACHI VANTARA LTD
  • EP4468114B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4468114B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4468114B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Power demand at each base is adjusted so as to improve a renewable energy utilization ratio at all bases. An inter-base workload control system manages an amount of excess power obtained by subtracting a power supply amount of the renewable energy power supply from a power consumption amount associated with execution of a workload in a future time range at the bases, spatial migratable time range information on a spatial migratable time range where spatial migration of migrating the workload in a future time range at the bases to another base is possible and temporal migratable time range information on temporal migration of delaying execution of the workload in the future time range at the bases within the same base and migrating the workload to another time range and a predicted amount of power consumption through execution of the workload in the future time range at the bases. The inter-base workload control system determines a power adjustment amount that moves through the spatial migration and the temporal migration of each workload in the future time range at the bases so that a sum total of excess power amounts at the plurality of bases becomes smaller.