Network node power conservation apparatus, system, and method

An apparatus comprising:

• a power monitoring unit configured to monitor a power level corresponding to a network node;
• a traffic monitoring unit configured to monitor a traffic level corresponding to the network node;
• an operational weight determining unit configured to determine an operational weight based on the power level and the traffic level;
• a comparing unit configured to compare the operational weight to a selected operational weight to determine a relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight;
• a self-retirement unit configured to execute a network node self-retirement procedure when the relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight satisfies a selected condition;
• and
• a communication unit configured to send the operational weight to at least one network node when the relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight does not satisfy the selected condition, wherein communication of the operational weight to the at least one network node results in being included in a subsequently determined network topology.

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform operations comprising:

• monitoring a power level corresponding to a network node;
• monitoring a traffic level corresponding to the network node;
• determining an operational weight based on the power level and the traffic level;
• comparing the operational weight to a selected operational weight to determine a relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight;
• executing a network node self-retirement procedure when the relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight satisfies a selected condition;
• and
• sending the operational weight to at least one network node when the relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight does not satisfy the selected condition, wherein the communicating of the operational weight to the at least one network node results in being included in a subsequently determined network topology.

An apparatus, comprising:

• power level monitoring means for monitoring a power level corresponding to a network node;
• traffic monitoring means for monitoring a traffic level corresponding to the network node;
• operational weight determining means for determining an operational weight based on the power level and the traffic level;
• comparing means for comparing the operational weight to a selected operational weight to determine a relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight;
• executing means for executing a network node self-retirement procedure when the relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight satisfies a selected condition;
• and
• sending means for sending the operational weight to at least one network node when the relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight does not satisfy the selected condition, wherein communication of the operational weight to the at least one network node results in being included in a subsequently determined network topology.

A system, comprising:

• a first network node;
• a second network node;
• a plurality of network nodes, wherein
• the first network node is configured to,
• monitor a power level corresponding to a network node,
• monitor a traffic level corresponding to the network node,
• determine an operational weight based on the power level and the traffic level,
• compare the operational weight to a selected operational weight to determine a relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight,
• execute a network node self-retirement procedure when the relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight satisfies a selected condition, and
• send the operational weight to at least one network node when the relationship between the operational weight and the selected operational weight does not satisfy the selected condition, and
• the second network node is configured to,
• receive operational weights corresponding to at least some of the plurality of network nodes, and
• determine a network topology when an operational weight of at least some of the plurality of network nodes is not received during a selected time interval, wherein the network topology comprises only of network nodes corresponding to received operational weights.