Network Energy Management via Distributed Protocol-Agnostic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network management systems lack the capability to intelligently coordinate energy consumption across a network of devices, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs, as they primarily focus on managing individual elements rather than network-wide energy management.
Innovation Solution
An energy management system that generates messages to control power consumption across a domain of devices, using a protocol-agnostic approach with a management module that can query and control power usage, implement time-of-day policies, and aggregate data for actionable insights, allowing for real-time monitoring and control of energy usage without a central processing unit or repository.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If network management systems focus on managing individual elements, then device-level control is achieved, but network-wide energy coordination capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments network management into distributed control points (routers, switches, access points) that independently manage local devices while participating in a coordinated network-wide energy management framework through standardized protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a universal energy management protocol that can be implemented across diverse network devices and technologies, enabling both individual device control and network-wide coordination through a common standard
2Adaptability or versatility
If network systems become more sophisticated, then network capabilities increase, but energy consumption increases without intelligent management
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts device power states based on real-time network conditions, traffic patterns, and energy consumption data, allowing network capabilities to adapt to energy constraints and vice versa
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements feedback mechanisms where devices report energy consumption and network status, enabling intelligent control decisions that balance network performance requirements with energy conservation
3Adaptability or versatility
If centralized energy management is implemented, then coordinated control is achieved, but system complexity and central processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each network device performs self-management of its own energy consumption and participates in coordinated control through local decision-making, eliminating the need for complex centralized processing while maintaining network-wide coordination
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes generating a message to be communicated over a network to a plurality of entities that reside in a domain. The message includes data relating to energy use. The message can be generated by one or more computing devices belonging to the domain. A selected one of the computing devices can control power consumption for the entities in the domain. In more specific embodiments, a formatting of the message is done at an application level. The formatting of the message is independent of a transport protocol of the message.