Network Packet Energy Consumption Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no existing solution to determine the total amount of energy consumed for transmitting information across a network, as each network device uses power to process data packets, leading to unknown energy consumption during content transmission.
Innovation Solution
A method where packet processing and forwarding nodes receive network packets with energy consumption values, calculate their own energy consumption, generate an aggregate energy consumption value, and modify the packets to include this information, which is then forwarded and summed by communication devices to determine the total energy consumption for media content transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network devices process data packets to transmit content across the network, then content transmission is enabled, but energy consumption increases and remains unknown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having each network device calculate and attach its own energy consumption value to the packet, then forward this information to the destination device. This creates a feedback loop where energy consumption data is collected, processed, and returned to the source, enabling the system to monitor and analyze total energy usage across the network path.
Solution Approach 2:
The packet serves as an intermediary carrier that transports both the content data and the energy consumption information between network devices. The energy consumption values are embedded within the packet structure, allowing intermediate devices to forward both the content and the metadata about energy usage without requiring separate communication channels.
2Productivity
If network devices forward packets through multiple nodes, then content delivery is achieved, but determining total energy consumption becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy consumption measurement process by having each individual network device (node) independently calculate its own energy consumption for processing the packet. Instead of requiring a single complex centralized system to track total energy usage, the workload is divided and distributed across multiple simple local calculations at each node along the transmission path.
Solution Approach 2:
Each network device performs preliminary action by calculating its own energy consumption value before forwarding the packet to the next node. This preliminary calculation of individual energy usage is performed at each hop along the transmission path, building up the complete energy profile incrementally rather than requiring complex post-processing afterward.
3Measurement precision
If energy consumption values are attached to each packet, then total energy consumption can be determined, but packet processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy consumption measurement function from the main packet processing workflow by treating it as a separate, independent calculation. Each device computes only its own energy consumption based on local parameters (processing time, transmission power), then attaches this pre-calculated value to the packet header. This extraction simplifies the overall processing by separating the measurement function from the data forwarding function.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to determining aggregate energy consumption associated with sending content (e.g., media content, such as a video file, audio file, etc.) across a network. For example, node 106A receives a network packet from server 104 and forwards the packet to node 106B. Node 106A determines an amount of energy consumed by node 106A in processing the packet. Node 106A adds this determined energy consumption value to an energy consumption value in a header within the network packet to produce an aggregate energy consumption value and send the network packet with the aggregate energy consumption value to node 106B. Node 106B receives the network packet from node 106a. Node 106B determines an amount of energy consumed by node 106B in processing the packet. Node 106B adds this determined energy consumption value to the energy consumption value in the header within the network packet to produce an aggregate energy consumption value and send the network packet with the aggregate energy consumption value to node 106G. Node 106G also adds its determined energy consumption to the aggregate energy consumption value received from node 106B. Node 106G sends the packet with the further updated aggregate energy consumption value to communication device 102. After communication device 102 receives the packet, a process running on communication device 102 extracts and stores the aggregate energy consumption value. When communication device 102 receives another packet related to the first packet, communication device 102 extracts, from this second packet, the aggregated energy consumption and sums this new aggregated energy consumption value with the stored aggregated energy consumption value in order to determine a total energy consumption. Thus, the present disclosure provides for determining an aggregate energy consumption value as well providing users of a network with information that makes them aware of how much energy is being consumed to transmit and/or receive content through the network. The energy consumption value for network nodes that cannot determine the amount of energy needed to send one or more network packets may be estimated.