Network Device Power Credit Management for Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices face challenges in managing power consumption effectively, particularly in maintaining device current within safe limits to prevent damage from excessive power usage, especially during temperature spikes or sudden traffic loading changes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of ingress and egress arbiters with power credit management systems that control data forwarding rates based on packet sizes and available power credits, ensuring that power consumption stays within configured limits by determining the number of power credits used for processing packets and replenishing them periodically to maintain target throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data forwarding rate is increased to maximize throughput, then productivity is improved, but device current exceeds safe limits causing power consumption to rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of data forwarding rates based on real-time power conditions. The arbiter continuously monitors device current and dynamically modifies the throughput allocated to packet processors, transitioning between different operating regions (OREs) to optimize the balance between productivity and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between multiple predefined operating regions (OREs), each with specific current and throughput ranges. This allows the device to adapt its performance characteristics by selecting appropriate parameter sets based on thermal and power conditions.
2Productivity
If data forwarding rate is increased to handle sudden traffic loading, then productivity is improved, but device temperature rises causing harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The arbiter dynamically adjusts throughput in response to thermal conditions by monitoring temperature sensors and transitioning between OREs. When temperature exceeds thresholds, the system automatically reduces data forwarding rates to allow cooling, preventing thermal damage while recovering performance when conditions improve.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary protective action by implementing thermal throttling before critical temperature damage occurs. The arbiter proactively reduces throughput when temperature approaches unsafe levels, preventing the harmful effect of overheating rather than reacting after damage occurs.
3Use of energy by moving object
If power credits are strictly limited to control power consumption, then power usage is reduced, but throughput is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic replenishment of power credits to packet processors at fixed intervals regardless of actual power consumption. This periodic credit allocation allows throughput to recover in cycles, balancing immediate power constraints with long-term productivity goals by permitting bursts of high throughput when credits are available.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device accesses, from a queue corresponding to a port of the device, a packet for processing. The device identifies a present operating region (ORE) of one or more OREs specified for the device, an ORE being associated with at least one of (i) one or more device attributes, or (ii) one or more environmental factors associated with an environment in which the device is operational. The device determines a number of power credits available for processing one or more packets. In response to determining that the number of power credits available is non-negative, the device completes processing of the packet. The device computes, based at least on the present ORE, a power credit reduction for the packet, which corresponds to an amount of power for processing the packet, and reduces the number of power credits available by the power credit reduction for the packet.