Network Device Time-Sliced Physical-Layer Power Management

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing energy-efficient Ethernet (EEE) technology fails to effectively reduce power consumption in low load conditions due to inefficient state transitions and uncertainty in traffic-based triggering, especially for intermittently arriving packets.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a power consumption management method that manages the state of a physical layer based on time slices, comprising active, low power idle, and wake-up periods, allowing controlled transitions and reducing uncertainty in traffic-based triggering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the physical layer enters LPI state immediately when there is no packet to send, then power consumption is reduced, but the energy-saving effect is limited when packet arrival mode is insufficient to trigger LPI state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidenergy-saving effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic time slice division where the physical layer interface alternates between working state and low power idle state in fixed cycles. Each time slice contains an active time period for data transmission and a low power idle time period for energy saving, creating a periodic state transition pattern that ensures the interface enters low power state regularly regardless of traffic patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the length of time slices and the proportions of active versus low power idle periods based on traffic load conditions. When traffic load is high, the active time period is extended; when traffic load is low, the low power idle time period is extended, making the power consumption characteristics adaptable to varying network conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the physical layer stays in working state to handle intermittent traffic, then traffic handling capability is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic handling capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic time slice division where the physical layer interface alternates between working state and low power idle state in fixed cycles. Each time slice contains an active time period for data transmission and a low power idle time period for energy saving, creating a periodic state transition pattern that ensures the interface enters low power state regularly regardless of traffic patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring time slice parameters and state transition timing before traffic arrives. The system proactively transitions to low power idle state during predetermined idle periods rather than waiting for traffic conditions to trigger the transition, ensuring energy savings are achieved in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If traffic-based triggering is used for state transitions, then state changes respond to actual traffic needs, but uncertainty in triggering increases power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestate transition responsivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic time slice division where the physical layer interface alternates between working state and low power idle state in fixed cycles. Each time slice contains an active time period for data transmission and a low power idle time period for energy saving, creating a periodic state transition pattern that ensures the interface enters low power state regularly regardless of traffic patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor traffic load conditions and use this information to adjust the duration and frequency of time slices. The system continuously adapts the active and idle period lengths based on observed traffic patterns, optimizing the balance between responsiveness and energy consumption through closed-loop control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250310887A1Power consumption management method, network device, storage medium, and program product

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A network device determines a length of a time slice, where the length of the time slice is used to set a state of at least one physical layer interface of the network device, the length of the time slice includes an active time period, a low power idle time period, and a wake-up time period, the physical layer interface is in a working state in the active time period, the physical layer interface is in a low power idle state in the low power idle time period, and the wake-up time period is used for the physical layer interface to switch from the low power idle state to the working state; and the network device sets the state of the at least one physical layer interface based on the length of the time slice.