In-Band Packet Sustainability Metadata for Energy-Aware Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional network monitoring approaches lack detailed visibility into individual packet behavior and performance, hindering precise troubleshooting and the ability to identify packet-level anomalies or bottlenecks, and fail to consider the cost and energy source of network devices, making it challenging to prioritize energy-efficient data transfer pathways.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating sustainability data, including power and greenhouse gas details, within the header of data packets using an extended iOAM framework to generate sustainable configurations for network devices, allowing for real-time optimization and efficient routing decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional network monitoring approaches (SNMP or flow-based monitoring) are used, then network monitoring is simple to implement, but detailed visibility into individual packet behavior and performance is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges network monitoring functionality directly into the data packets themselves by embedding iOAM headers within the packet structure. This allows packets to carry their own monitoring data (timestamps, path information, performance metrics) as they traverse the network, eliminating the need for separate monitoring systems while achieving detailed packet-level visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The iOAM header acts as an intermediary carrier that transports sustainability and performance data alongside the actual payload. This intermediary structure enables monitoring information to be embedded within the existing packet flow without requiring separate monitoring infrastructure or disrupting normal packet processing.
2Loss of information
If iOAM is used to capture detailed network performance data, then real-time analysis and troubleshooting capability is improved, but energy consumption and cost information is not captured
Solution Approach 1:
The iOAM header is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it captures traditional network performance metrics (timestamps, path information) and sustainability data (energy consumption, carbon footprint, cost information) in a single unified structure. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate monitoring systems for different types of data.
Solution Approach 2:
Sustainability data is collected and embedded in the iOAM header at the source network device before packets traverse the network. This preliminary collection of energy consumption and cost information at the origin point simplifies downstream analysis and eliminates the need for complex distributed measurement systems.
3Productivity
If sustainability data is embedded in every data packet header, then real-time optimization and routing decisions based on energy efficiency are enabled, but packet header size and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The iOAM header embeds sustainability data at local network hops where it is generated, allowing receiving devices to access and process only the specific sustainability information relevant to their routing decisions. This localized data placement enables efficient processing without requiring entire packets to be reprocessed, reducing overall energy overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods that incorporate sustainability data within a header of a data packet to allow for the generation of sustainable configurations for various network devices are disclosed. Power efficiency is obtained at a node-level by including metadata to existing network flows, in an in-band/in-situ configuration. This information may be used for optimum flow placement. Received data packets may be formatted with sustainability data within a metadata shim. The received data packets are processed, and a sustainable configuration is generated for the one or more network devices. The generated sustainable configuration is transmitted to the one or more network devices to enable efficient and effective management of network devices by incorporating sustainability data into the data packets.