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EP-4736543-A1 - ORCHESTRATING LOW-POWER MODES IN NETWORK DEVICES

EP4736543A1EP 4736543 A1EP4736543 A1EP 4736543A1EP-4736543-A1

Abstract

Devices, systems, methods, and processes for orchestrating and managing various lower-power modes in a variety of network devices within a network are described herein. Various network devices, such as access points may be capable of entering one or more lower-power modes of operation that utilize less electricity to operate. When initiating a lower-power mode, the various clients that the network device has been handling need to be handed off to a sibling AP nearby. However, when exiting these lower-power modes, these devices may need different amounts of time to reboot and/or resume normal operations. Thus, when deciding which clients to re-associate with the waking up network device, various considerations need to be weighed based on client needs and network device capabilities. Thus, a smart environmental controller (SEC) is utilized to coordinate these processes. The SEC can be a specialized device, or a logic distributed remotely or among the network devices.

Inventors

  • CARTY, CLARK, A.
  • NALAMALAPU, Kasi, R.
  • XUE, Ruifeng
  • PIGNATARO, CARLOS

Assignees

  • Cisco Technology, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240627

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A device, comprising: a processor; at least one network interface controller configured to provide access to a network; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises a smart environmental controller logic that is configured to: establish communication with an access point (AP) via the at least one network interface controller, wherein the AP is associated with a plurality of clients; receive AP power mode capability data; parse the AP power mode capability data; receive a notification that the AP will enter a lower-power mode; receive a wake-up signal from the AP; utilize the parsed AP power mode capability data to determine which of the plurality of clients should be transferred back to the AP upon wake-up; generate client management data based on the determined plurality of clients; and transmit the generated client management data to the AP.
  2. 2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the AP power mode capability data is received from the AP.
  3. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the AP power mode capability data comprises one or more low power settings available within the AP.
  4. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the one or more low power settings comprise at least: entering a lower-power mode, entering a hibernation mode, or powering down the AP.
  5. 5. The device of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the client management data comprises a list of clients that should be re-associated with the AP upon wake-up.
  6. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the AP is associated with one or more sibling APs within communication range of the AP.
  7. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the clients to be re-associated are associated with the one or more sibling APs.
  8. 8. The device of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the smart environmental controller logic is further configured to receive a notification that the AP has resumed normal operations.
  9. 9. A network device, comprising: a processor; at least one network interface controller configured to provide access to a network; a plurality of clients being serviced by the network device; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises a smart environmental controller logic that is configured to: establish communication with an external smart environmental controller (SEC) via the at least one network interface controller; generate AP power mode capability data; transmit the AP power mode capability data to the SEC; determine that it is suitable to initiate a lower-power mode; transmit a notification to the SEC that the lower-power mode is being initiated; enter the lower-power mode; initiate wake up from the lower-power mode; transmit a wake-up signal to the SEC; receive client management data from the SEC; and re-establish an association with the clients indicated within the client management data.
  10. 10. The network device of claim 9, wherein the smart environmental controller logic is further configured to transmit a notification to the SEC that normal operations have resumed.
  11. 11. The network device of claim 9 or 10, wherein the AP power mode capability data comprises one or more low power settings available within the AP.
  12. 12. The network device of any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the network device is associated with one or more sibling network devices.
  13. 13. The network device of claim 12, wherein the smart environmental controller logic is further configured to transmit a notification to the one or more sibling network devices when it is determined that it is suitable to enter a lower-power mode.
  14. 14. The network device of claim 13, wherein the one or more sibling network devices can associate with and service at least one of the plurality of clients.
  15. 15. The network device of any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the smart environmental controller logic is further configured to transmit a wake-up signal to the one or more sibling devices.
  16. 16. The network device of claim 15, wherein the re-established clients are received from the one or more sibling network devices.
  17. 17. The network device of claim 16, wherein the smart environmental controller logic is further configured to receive additional clients from the one or more siblings network devices that are not indicated in the client management data.
  18. 18. A method of orchestrating lower-power modes in network devices, comprising: establishing communication with an access point (AP), wherein the AP is associated with a plurality of clients; receiving AP power mode capability data from the AP; parsing the received AP power mode capability data to determine lower-power mode capabilities of the AP; receiving a notification that the AP will enter a lower-power mode; receiving a wake-up signal from the AP; generating client management data; and transmitting the generated client management data to the AP.
  19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the parsed AP power mode capability data is utilized to determine a plurality of clients that should be transferred back to the AP upon wake-up.
  20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the client management data is generated based on the determined plurality of clients.

Description

Orchestrating Low-Power Modes in Network Devices [0001] The present disclosure relates to networking. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to orchestrating and managing various lower-power modes in a variety of network devices within a network. [0002] This application is a PCT filing of U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 18/345,453, filed June 30, 2023, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND [0003] Traditional network devices were operated either in an on state or an off state. While attempting to save power in this scenario is easy to determine because the only available lower- power mode was to turn off the network device, that device may require several minutes to reboot and resume normal operations. Because network conditions can change rapidly, this meant that there was a lot of risk involved in activating a lower-power state in the network as these changes may be sudden enough to result in sub-optimal network functionality. Thus, clients may not have the needed throughput to communicate or function properly over the network and one or more service level agreements (SLAs) may not be met. [0004] Eventually, new network devices were made with sleep, hibernation, or other lower- power modes. However, these devices are not standardized and thus the amount of time needed to reboot from sleep or hibernation may vary. This can lead to problems orchestrating the correct power cycling and client handoff between devices as they enter and exit a lower-power mode. As a result, client throughput and service level needs may still not be met, leading network administrators to still hesitate to utilize lower-power modes in a manner that is optimal. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0005] Aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims and preferred features are set out in the dependent claims. Features of one aspect may be applied to each aspect alone or in combination with other features. [0006] Systems and methods for orchestrating and managing various lower-power modes in a variety of network devices within a network in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure are described herein. [0007] In some embodiments, techniques described herein relate to a device that includes a processor, and at least one network interface controller configured to provide access to a network, and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory includes a smart environmental controller logic that is configured to establish communication with an access point (AP) via the at least one network interface controller. The AP is associated with a plurality of clients and receives AP power mode capability data which may be parsed. The AP may receive a notification that the AP will enter a lower-power mode, and receive a wake-up signal from the AP. The parsed AP power mode capability data may be utilized to determine which of the plurality of clients should be transferred back to the AP upon wake-up. Client management data may be generated based on the determined plurality of clients, and transmitted or otherwise communicated to the AP. [0008] In some embodiments, the AP power mode capability data is received from the AP. [0009] In some embodiments, the AP power mode capability data includes one or more low power settings available within the AP. [0010] In some embodiments, the one or more low power settings include at least entering a lower-power mode, entering a hibernation mode, or powering down the AP. [0011] In some embodiments, the client management data includes a list of clients that should be re-associated with the AP upon wake-up. [0012] In some embodiments, the AP is associated with one or more sibling APs within communication range of the AP. [0013] In some embodiments, the clients to be re-associated are associated with the one or more sibling APs. [0014] In some embodiments, smart environmental controller logic is further configured to receive a notification that the AP has resumed normal operations. [0015] In some embodiments, a network device, includes a processor, and at least one network interface controller configured to provide access to a network. A plurality of clients may be serviced by the network device. A memory is communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory includes a smart environmental controller logic that is configured to establish communication with an external smart environmental controller (SEC) via the at least one network interface controller, generate AP power mode capability data, transmit the AP power mode capability data to the SEC, determine that it is suitable to initiate a lower-power mode, transmit a notification to the SEC that the lower-power mode is being initiated, enter the lower-power mode, initiate wake up from the lower-power mode, transmit a wake-up signal to the SEC, receive client management data from the SEC, and re-establish an association with the clients indicated within the client management data.