Packet Pattern Segmentation for Sleep Mode Energy Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information processing apparatuses face challenges in efficiently transitioning to and from sleep mode to conserve energy, as existing systems often return from sleep mode unnecessarily due to excessive packet pattern matching, leading to increased power consumption and sub-processor memory usage.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a main controller that creates port-dependent and port-independent TCP/UDP packet patterns, determining when to delete or modify these patterns to manage the sleep mode effectively, and a sub-controller that matches received packets against these patterns to decide whether to wake the system, thereby optimizing energy saving and reducing unnecessary wake-ups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If port-dependent TCP packet patterns are created for all in-use TCP ports, then the accuracy of packet pattern matching is improved, but the total number of packet patterns exceeds the maximum value and sub-controller memory usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket pattern matching accuracyVSAvoidnumber of packet patterns

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments packet patterns into two distinct types: port-dependent patterns (for UDP and necessary TCP ports) and port-independent patterns (for TCP protocols without specific port requirements). This segmentation allows the system to maintain accurate matching for protocols that need port specificity while using generic port-independent patterns for others, thereby reducing the total number of patterns stored in the sub-controller without compromising matching accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating port-dependent TCP packet patterns for all TCP ports, the patent applies partial action by selectively creating port-dependent patterns only for necessary ports while using port-independent patterns for others. This partial approach avoids the excessive creation of all possible port-specific patterns, reducing memory usage while maintaining sufficient matching capability for actual communication needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If the sub-controller matches all received packets against port-dependent TCP packet patterns, then the reliability of sleep mode activation is improved, but the processing time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleep mode activation reliabilityVSAvoidpacket processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the port specification element from TCP packet patterns, creating port-independent TCP packet patterns that match TCP packets regardless of their destination port. This extraction simplifies the matching process by removing the need to check port numbers for TCP protocols, thereby reducing processing time and energy consumption while maintaining reliable sleep mode activation through the port-independent matching capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If port-dependent UDP packet patterns are created for all in-use UDP ports, then the accuracy of packet pattern matching is improved, but the total number of packet patterns exceeds the maximum value

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket pattern matching accuracyVSAvoidpacket pattern management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments UDP packet pattern management by maintaining port-dependent patterns for UDP protocols, which inherently require port specification for accurate matching. This segmentation allows UDP traffic to be accurately matched while the system manages the total pattern count by combining these with port-independent TCP patterns, balancing matching accuracy with manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11044349B2Information processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable recording medium that stores packet pattern creation program

Publication Date: 2021.06.22 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes: a sub controller; a main controller; and a communication interface, the main controller being configured to detect a trigger to start the sleep mode, then create port-dependent TCP packet patterns and port-dependent UDP packet patterns, the port-dependent TCP packet patterns being packet patterns specifying all in-use TCP ports, the port-dependent UDP packet patterns being packet patterns specifying all in-use UDP ports, determine that a total number of the port-dependent UDP packet patterns and the port-dependent TCP packet patterns exceeds a maximum value, then delete all the port-dependent TCP packet patterns, create port-independent TCP packet patterns for different TCP protocols, respectively, the port-independent TCP packet pattern being one packet pattern specifying no TCP port, and supply the port-dependent UDP packet patterns and the port-independent TCP packet patterns to the sub controller, and start the sleep mode.