WLAN Power Credit Allocation for Energy Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current WLAN deployments consume excessive power as network devices operate at maximum capabilities regardless of usage levels, leading to inefficient power management and increased energy costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a power consumption credit system that dynamically allocates power across WLAN deployments by assigning credits to network devices based on their usage, allowing devices to operate at reduced capabilities during low traffic periods and generate credits when consuming less power, thereby optimizing energy usage within a set power budget.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network devices operate at maximum capabilities, then service quality and user experience are maintained, but power consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power allocation where network devices adjust their operating capabilities based on real-time traffic conditions and available power consumption credits. The controller continuously monitors network usage and dynamically reallocates power credits among devices, enabling devices to operate at maximum capability only when needed while reducing power consumption during low-traffic periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of network devices by adjusting their power consumption levels based on measured traffic loads. When traffic is low, devices operate at reduced power levels; when traffic increases, the system allocates additional power consumption credits to maintain service quality. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliability and reducing energy use.
2Use of energy by moving object
If network devices operate at reduced capabilities during low traffic, then power consumption decreases, but service quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements continuous feedback monitoring of network traffic conditions and device performance. When a device operates at reduced capabilities to save power, the controller monitors service quality metrics and can reallocate power consumption credits from other devices to maintain overall network performance. This feedback mechanism ensures service quality is preserved even when individual devices operate at reduced capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the power consumption resources of multiple network devices into a shared pool managed by the controller. When one device operates at reduced capability to save power, the saved power credits are pooled and can be allocated to other devices that require higher performance, thereby maintaining overall service quality while reducing total power consumption.
3Productivity
If a centralized power management system is implemented, then power allocation efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions including monitoring network traffic, measuring device power consumption, allocating power credits, and adjusting device capabilities. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single universal controller, the system achieves efficient centralized power management without proportionally increasing complexity, as the controller leverages existing monitoring and control capabilities across the network.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for dynamic power allocation across a network deployment through a power consumption credits system that can balance a power budget throughout the network deployment by allocating credits to high power consuming network devices and generating credits by low-power consumption network devices. An example of the systems and methods associate a credit pool with a network deployment and map a number of credits to the credit pool based on a power budget. Credits can be allocated from the credit pool to network devices on the network deployment and/or accumulated into the credit pool from the network devices based on power consumption requirements of the network devices relative to a baseline.