Telecommunication Node Power Saving via CPU Traffic Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telecommunication equipment often operates at maximum capacity and power consumption, leading to high energy costs and inefficiencies, as not all energy consumption is necessary for providing maximum bandwidth or packet processing capability.
Innovation Solution
A telecommunication node design that includes a general purpose processor replicating the functionality of standard components at a lower capacity, allowing traffic to be routed through the general purpose processor instead of the standard components during power-saving modes, thereby reducing power consumption by powering down components when traffic levels are below maximum capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If telecommunication equipment operates at maximum capacity, then processing capability and bandwidth are maximized, but power consumption increases unnecessarily during low traffic periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational mode by switching between high-performance components and general-purpose processors based on traffic conditions. The controller monitors traffic rates and automatically selects the appropriate processing path, making the system adaptable to varying load conditions rather than operating at fixed maximum capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a general-purpose processor that replicates the functionality of specialized high-performance components but at lower cost and power consumption. This copy can handle traffic when conditions permit, reducing the need to maintain expensive specialized hardware at full capacity continuously
2Speed
If specialized components are used for high-speed processing, then bandwidth capacity is maximized, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The general-purpose processor is designed to perform multiple functions including traffic processing, packet forwarding, and protocol handling that were traditionally handled by dedicated specialized components. This multi-functional approach reduces the overall number of specialized hardware components needed in the system
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses specialized high-speed components only when necessary (when traffic exceeds the capacity of the general-purpose processor), rather than continuously operating them. This partial deployment of high-performance hardware reduces overall system complexity and cost while maintaining the capability to handle peak loads
3Use of energy by moving object
If power saving modes are implemented by routing traffic to general purpose processor, then energy consumption is reduced, but processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors traffic rates and provides feedback to determine the optimal processing path. When traffic volume is low, the system feeds back to route traffic to the general-purpose processor for power saving; when traffic volume increases, the feedback mechanism switches to the high-speed specialized components to maintain processing performance
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are provided which allow telecommunication equipment to adjust its power consumption. By replicating the functionality of a standard component for processing traffic on a general purpose CPU, traffic can be routed within the equipment to the general purpose CPU for processing instead of the component under certain conditions. If the maximum bandwidth supported by the functionality on the general purpose CPU is less than the maximum bandwidth supported by the component, then the component can be powered down during times of low traffic and the traffic routed to the general purpose CPU instead. Since the maximum bandwidth supported by the functionality on the general purpose CPU is less than the maximum bandwidth supported by the component, less power is necessary to operate the telecommunication equipment and hence cost is reduced.