Hardware Routing Table Entry Management for Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Routers face increased power consumption due to large active memory requirements for storing routing tables, especially as the internet grows and routing becomes more complex, with hardware routing tables being power hungry and requiring frequent updates to maintain correct entry order.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to manage the size of hardware routing tables by calculating a maximum power limit, monitoring entry usage, and deleting or 'sleeping' infrequently used entries to maintain the number of active entries within a specified size limit, using ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) and pseudo routes to prevent overlapping entries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hardware routing table stores more routing entries to handle complex internet routing, then the routing capability and coverage are improved, but the power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic management of routing table entries by monitoring usage frequency and automatically adjusting the number of active entries. The system transitions from a static full-table approach to a dynamic selective approach where only frequently used routes remain active in TCAM, while less frequent routes are moved to sleep state or stored in slower memory, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining routing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts frequently used routing entries from the complete routing table and places them in the high-power TCAM for fast lookup. Less frequently used entries are removed from TCAM and stored in lower-power alternative memory structures, achieving power savings while preserving the ability to handle complex routing scenarios when needed.
2Quantity of substance
If the hardware routing table maintains a large number of active entries, then the routing coverage is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by maintaining only the necessary subset of routing entries in the high-power active state. Instead of keeping all possible routing entries active simultaneously, the system activates only those entries that are currently needed based on traffic patterns, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate routing coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational state parameter of routing entries from always-active to dynamically-active based on usage frequency. By monitoring and adjusting the active/sleep state of individual routing table entries, the system optimizes the balance between having sufficient routing coverage and minimizing power consumption.
3Manufacturing precision
If the router uses hardware routing table with frequent updates, then the routing accuracy is improved, but the complexity of maintaining entry order increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated monitoring and management of routing table entries. The system automatically tracks usage frequency, identifies candidates for sleep state, and manages transitions between active and sleep states without manual intervention, thereby reducing the operational complexity of maintaining accurate routing tables while preserving routing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring routing entry usage and using this information to dynamically adjust which entries remain active in TCAM. This feedback-driven approach simplifies the maintenance of routing accuracy by automatically adapting the routing table configuration based on actual traffic patterns rather than requiring complex manual reordering.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for managing a hardware routing table comprising monitoring usage of entries in said routing table and deleting entries based on usage criteria so as to generally keep the number of entries within a size limit, thereby conserving power.