Back to results
US 8,897,314 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for power reduction in network
AssigneeMarvell Israel (M.I.S.L) Ltd.
InventorsDenis Krivitski, Youval Nachum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects of the disclosure can provide a network switch having reduced power consumption. The network switch can include a plurality of ports that are configured to receive and transmit network traffic. The plurality of ports can be configured in a power-on mode and a power-off mode. Further, at least a first port among the plurality of ports can be configured to remain in the power-on mode and to receive power control instructions. In addition, the network switch can include a power controller. The power controller can change the power modes of selected ports among the plurality of ports in response to the power control instructions received through the first port.
Claims18
A network switch, comprising:
- a plurality of circuit portions configured to at least one of receive, switch and transmit network traffic, at least some circuit portions of the network switch being configurable in a power-on mode and a power-off mode and to communicate with a terminal device:
- a management port assigned as a member of a management network, the management port configured to:
- communicate with another switch in a network,
- receive traffic polling requests from other switches coupled to the network switch that is an edge switch via the management port of the management network, and to transmit traffic load indications to the management network in response to the traffic polling request when a transmitting portion of the management port is powered on, and
- receive instructions from the management network in a passive receiving mode when a receiving portion of the management port remains powered on and at least the transmitting portion remains powered off until the management port receives a power-on instruction from the management network;
- and
- a power controller configured to control at least one of the circuit portions that is in the power-off mode to enter the power-on mode in response to the power-on instruction received by the management port.
4 more elements
A method for reducing power consumption in a network switch, comprising:
- communicating with a terminal device at least one of circuit portions of the network switch that is an edge switch;
- transmitting traffic load indications for a plurality of the circuit portions by a management port to a management network in response to a traffic polling request from other switches coupled to the network switch via the management port of the management network when a transmitting portion of the management port is powered on, the management port being assigned as a member of the management network and configured to communicate with another switch in a network;
- powering down selected circuit portions in the network switch, the circuit portions being configured to at least one of receive, switch and transmit network traffic when in a power-on mode;
- maintaining the management port in a passive receiving mode in which a receiving portion of the management port remains powered on and the transmitting portion of the management port remains powered off;
- and
- switching at least one of the circuit portions into the power-on mode in response to a power-on instruction received from another network switch through the management port.
3 more elements
A network switch, comprising:
- a plurality of circuit portions configured to at least one of receive, switch and transmit network traffic, at least some of the circuit portions of the network switch being configurable in a power-on mode and a power-off mode and to communicate with a terminal device;
- a management port assigned as a member of a management network, the management port configured to:
- communicate with another switch in a network,
- transmit traffic load indications to the management network in response to a traffic polling request from other switches coupled to the network switch that is an edge switch via the management port of the management network when a transmitting portion of the management port is powered on, and
- receive power control instructions from the management network in a passive receiving mode when a receiving portion of the management port remains powered on and at least the transmitting portion remains powered off;
- and
- a power controller configured to control at least one of the circuit portions that is in the power off-mode to enter the power-on mode in response to a power-on instruction received by the management port.
4 more elements
A network switch, comprising:
- a plurality of circuit portions configured to at least one of receive, switch and transmit network traffic, at least some circuit portions of the network switch being configurable in a power-on mode and a power-off mode, at least one of the circuit portions configured to communicate with a terminal device;
- and
- a management port assigned as a member of a management network, the management port configured to:
- communicate with another switch in a network,
- receive traffic polling requests from other switches coupled to the network switch that is an edge switch via the management port of the management network, and to transmit traffic load indications to the management network in response to the traffic polling request when a transmitting portion of the management port is powered on, and
- receive instructions from the management network in a passive receiving mode when a receiving portion of the management port remains powered on and at least the transmitting portion remains powered off until the management port receives a power-on instruction from the management network;
- and
- a power controller configured to control at least one of the circuit portions that is in the power-off mode to enter the power-on mode in response to the power-on instruction received by the management port.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.