# US 12,224,928 B1 · Network path probing with energy source identification > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,928 B1 - Document ID: US12224928B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/244,964 - Filed: 2023-09-12 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-12 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Hans Ashlock; Indermeet Singh Gandhi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224928B1 ## CPC - H04L 45/123: {Evaluation of link metrics (techniques for monitoring network metrics H04L43/08)} - H04L 43/045: for graphical visualisation of monitoring data - H04L 43/10: Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route - H04L 43/12: Network monitoring probes - H04L 45/42: Centralised routing - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract According to one or more implementations of the disclosure, a device initiates probing of a path in a network during which one or more probe packets are sent along the path. A hop along the path modifies the one or more probe packets to include energy source information regarding one or more energy sources available to that hop. The device receives results of the probing of the path that include the energy source information. The device generates, based on the results of the probing, a visual representation of the path and those one or energy sources available to different hops along the path. The device provides the visual representation of the path to a user interface for display. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: initiating, by a device, probing of a path in a network during which one or more probe packets are sent along the path, wherein a hop along the path modifies the one or more probe packets to include energy source information indicative of a type of energy source regarding one or more energy sources available to that hop; receiving, at the device, results of the probing of the path that include the energy source information; generating, by the device and based on the results of the probing, a visual representation of the path and those one or more energy sources available to different hops along the path; and providing, by the device, the visual representation of the path to a user interface for display. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein initiating probing of the path comprises: instructing one or more probing agents in the network to send the one or more probe packets along the path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the hop along the path obtains the energy source information for inclusion in the one or more probe packets via an application programming interface (API). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: repeating the probing of the path at a different time to capture additional energy source information, wherein the visual representation of the path further indicates change in which energy sources the hop uses over time, based on a difference between the energy source information and the additional energy source information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the hop along the path modifies the one or more probe packets by inserting the energy source information into a time-to-live (TTL) expiry message. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more probe packets are Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) packets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more probe packets are Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) packets. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representation indicates a percentage of energy consumed by the hop that was sourced from one or more renewable energy sources. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representation of the path includes geolocation information for its hops. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: causing traffic to be routed along the path in the network based in part on the one or more energy sources available to different hops along the path. ### Claim 11 An apparatus, comprising: one or more network interfaces; a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes; and a memory configured to store a process that is executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to: initiate probing of a path in a network during which one or more probe packets are sent along the path, wherein a hop along the path modifies the one or more probe packets to include energy source information indicative of a type of energy source regarding one or more energy sources available to that hop; receive results of the probing of the path that include the energy source information; generate, based on the results of the probing, a visual representation of the path and those one or more energy sources available to different hops along the path; and provide the visual representation of the path to a user interface for display. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus initiates probing of the path by: instructing one or more probing agents in the network to send the one or more probe packets along the path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the hop along the path obtains the energy source information for inclusion in the one or more probe packets via an application programming interface (API). ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the process when executed is further configured to: repeat the probing of the path at a different time to capture additional energy source information, wherein the visual representation of the path further indicates change in which energy sources the hop uses over time, based on a difference between the energy source information and the additional energy source information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the hop along the path modifies the one or more probe packets by inserting the energy source information into a time-to-live (TTL) expiry message. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more probe packets are Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) packets. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more probe packets are Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) packets. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the visual representation indicates a percentage of energy consumed by the hop that was sourced from one or more renewable energy sources. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the visual representation of the path includes geolocation information for its hops. ### Claim 20 A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a device to execute a process comprising: initiating, by the device, probing of a path in a network during which one or more probe packets are sent along the path, wherein a hop along the path modifies the one or more probe packets to include energy source information indicative of a type of energy source regarding one or more energy sources available to that hop; receiving, at the device, results of the probing of the path that include the energy source information; generating, by the device and based on the results of the probing, a visual representation of the path and those one or more energy sources available to different hops along the path; and providing, by the device, the visual representation of the path to a user interface for display.