Patent ID: 9092223
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method to reduce power consumption by a computer network, comprising: determining a set of minimum network elements to carry network traffic; identifying a logical topology for the set of minimum network elements; reconfiguring an optical circuit switch to implement the logical topology based on the set of minimum network elements; applying a constraint-based routing model to determine how to reroute traffic over the logical topology for the set of minimum network elements from a high-power-cost network element to a low-power-cost network element, the constraints including carrying network traffic and reducing power consumption; rerouting network traffic over the logical topology from the high-power-cost network element to the low-power-cost network element, based on the constraint-based routing model; responsive to the rerouting, identifying and placing a network element bearing reduced network traffic into a low-power state; monitoring network element utilization to determine whether more network elements are required to be activated to carry network traffic; and identifying and activating a low-power-cost network element to remove the low-power-cost network element from a low-power state and routing traffic to the activated low-power-cost network element.