Network Presence Proxy for Idle Device Power Savings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Computing devices, such as desktop and notebook computers, consume significant energy even when idle, and putting them into sleep mode can disrupt network presence and background activities, as many applications require persistent connectivity.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a network-presence proxy within a virtual machine environment that migrates idle operations to a cloud server, allowing the computing device to enter sleep mode while maintaining network connectivity, thereby reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the computing device is turned off or put into deep sleep/hibernation mode to eliminate idle power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but network presence and background activity participation are prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnetwork presence

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the computing device operations into two parts: critical operations that require network presence are migrated to a cloud server, while non-critical operations remain on the local device. This allows the local device to enter sleep mode for power savings while the cloud server maintains network presence for essential functions like VoIP, IM, and email.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cloud server as an intermediary that takes over certain operations from the local computing device. This intermediary maintains network presence and handles background activities, allowing the local device to conserve power by entering sleep mode without sacrificing essential network connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the computing device remains on to maintain network presence and participate in background activity, then network presence is maintained, but idle power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork presenceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides device operations into critical and non-critical components. Critical operations requiring network presence are offloaded to the cloud server, while non-critical operations can be suspended locally. This segmentation enables the device to maintain network presence through the cloud while reducing local power consumption during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic operation migration where the system adapts its behavior based on device state. When the device is idle, operations are dynamically migrated to the cloud server and the local device enters sleep mode. When activity is detected, operations are dynamically returned to the local device. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the balance between power consumption and network presence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If operations are migrated to a cloud server to enable sleep mode, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages the existing virtual machine environment and cloud computing infrastructure to achieve operation migration. By utilizing these universal platforms, the system can offload operations without requiring specialized hardware or complex custom implementations, thereby reducing the practical complexity despite the added functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9229516B2Methods, devices, and computer program products for maintaining network presence while conserving power consumption

Publication Date: 2016.01.05 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Network presence of a computing device in a cloud computing network is maintained while power consumption of the computing device is reduced. When the computing device is determined to enter an idle state, at least some of the operations of the computing device running in a virtual machine environment are migrated to a server within the cloud computing network while maintaining connectivity of the computing device to the cloud computing network. When the computing device is determined to be in the idle state, the computing device is put into a sleep mode to reduce power consumption of the computing device. When the computing device is determined to be in an active state, the computing device is woken, and the migrated operations are returned from the server to the computing device. This reduces power consumption of the computing device while maintaining the network presence of the computing device in the cloud computing network.