POWER EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT IN NETWORK EQUIPMENT USING SERVICE GROUP CONSOLIDATION

摘要

Particular embodiments provide systems and methods to reduce the average power consumption per subscriber. Particular embodiments select windows of time when network components are under-utilized by subscribers of the network. During periods of under-utilization of a network component, subscribers may be consolidated onto a smaller number of network components by increasing the service group size. The consolidation increases the service group size, which has the effect of lowering bandwidth per subscriber. However, the bandwidth use per subscriber may be lower during this time. The use of the smaller number of network components allows the energy for these components to be used more efficiently. When the subscriber network demands increase, the distribution system places the network components into an active power state and redistributes the subscribers to the newly-activated components. This decreases the service group size, such as back to the original size.

主权项

1. A method for managing power in a distribution network that includes a plurality of network components coupled to a plurality of service groups of subscribers, the method comprising:
selecting a period to switch from a first state to a second state, wherein the second state is where at least one service group is consolidated with another service group in the plurality of service groups and the first state is where the at least one service group is not consolidated with the another service group; during the first state, controlling a switching network to provide a first path from a first network component in the plurality of network components to a first service group and a second path from a second network component in the plurality of network components to a second service group; and when switching from the first state to the second state, performing:
changing the switching network to change the second path from the second network component to the second service group to a third path from the first network component to the second service group, wherein the first network component services the first service group and the second service group; andplacing the second network component into a lower power state after changing the switching network.