Some embodiments of the invention provide a network forwarding element that can be dynamically reconfigured to adjust its data message processing to stay within a desired operating temperature or power consumption range. In some embodiments, the network forwarding element includes (1) a data-plane forwarding circuit (“data plane”) to process data tuples associated with data messages received by the IC, and (2) a control-plane circuit (“control plane”) for configuring the data plane forwarding circuit. The data plane includes several data processing stages to process the data tuples. The data plane also includes an idle-signal injecting circuit that receives from the control plane configuration data that the control plane generates based on the IC's temperature. Based on the received configuration data, the idle-signal injecting circuit generates idle control signals for the data processing stages. Each stage that receives an idle control signal enters an idle state during which the majority of the components of that stage do not perform any operations, which reduces the power consumed and temperature generated by that stage during its idle state.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a network forwarding element that can be dynamically reconfigured to adjust its data message processing to stay within a desired operating temperature or power consumption range. In some embodiments, the network forwarding element includes (1) a data-plane forwarding circuit (“data plane”) to process data tuples associated with data messages received by the IC, and (2) a control-plane circuit (“control plane”) for configuring the data plane forwarding circuit. The data plane includes several data processing stages to process the data tuples. The data plane also includes an idle-signal injecting circuit that receives from the control plane configuration data that the control plane generates based on the IC's temperature. Based on the received configuration data, the idle-signal injecting circuit generates idle control signals for the data processing stages. Each stage that receives an idle control signal enters an idle state during which the majority of the components of that stage do not perform any operations, which reduces the power consumed and temperature generated by that stage during its idle state.

An Internet Protocol (IP) camera control method, apparatus, and system to prevent the IP camera from being always in a working state, where the method includes waiting, by the IP camera, for receiving a standby instruction, where the IP camera is currently in the working state, and switching, by the IP camera, from the working state to a standby state when the IP camera receives the standby instruction from a server, such that power consumption of the IP camera is reduced.

A communication apparatus is configured to work by power supplied through a communication line, the communication apparatus includes: a controller, when the controller detects that the power supplied through the communication line decreases in a predetermined range, configured to degrade operation of the communication apparatus, the degraded operation including at least one of stop of partial function among functions held by the communication apparatus and a decrease in performance of the functions held by the communication apparatus.

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes calculating a packet metric for a first one of a plurality of links connected to a network element, wherein the packet metric is equal to a packet count over a period of time T divided by a maximum throughput of the first one of the links; and determining based on the packet metric whether traffic on the one of the links should be switched to another one of the plurality of links to optimize power usage. If a determination is made that the traffic on the first one of the links should be switched to another one of the plurality of links, the method further includes selecting a second link from a subset of the plurality of links; assigning the traffic to the selected second link; and applying a cost saving measure at an interface of the network element to which the first link is connected.

The Distributed Software Defined Network (dSDN) disclosed herein is an end-to-end architecture that enables secure and flexible programmability across a network with full lifecycle management of services and infrastructure applications (fxDeviceApp). The dSDN also harmonizes application deployment across the network independent of the hardware vendor. As a result, the dSDN simplifies the network deployment lifecycle from concept to design to implementation to decommissioning.

Data valuation techniques in a sensor data environment are provided. For example, a method obtains at least one sensor data element generated by at least one sensor associated with a set of one or more sensors operatively coupled to a gateway. At least one data valuation algorithm is applied to the at least one sensor data element to compute at least one value. The computed value is distributed for assignment to one or more of the gateway, the at least one sensor, and the at least one sensor data element.

The present invention provides a method for setting a heartbeat timer, a terminal and a server. The method includes: a terminal installed with an application receives a timer setting request carrying first setting information of a to-be-set timer transmitted by the application; the terminal transmits a timer query request to a server according to the first setting information; the timer query request carries a query identifier generated according to the first setting information; the terminal receives a timer query response returned by the server, where the timer query response carries a query result indicating whether a heartbeat timer list includes a heartbeat timer information entry matched with the query identifier; the terminal determines whether to set the to-be-set timer for the application according to the query result, and performs a corresponding setting operation. The solution can effectively manage and set a heartbeat timer within a mobile phone terminal.

In accordance with an embodiment, a network device includes a network controller and at least one network interface coupled to the network controller that includes at least one media access control (MAC) device configured to be coupled to at least one physical layer interface (PHY). The network controller may be configured to determine a network path comprising the at least one network interface that has a lowest power consumption and minimum security attributes of available media types coupled to the at least one PHY.

A network management system (NMS) for a communications network has communications apparatus capable of being operated in different power consumption modes to provide different levels of performance, has a path computation apparatus configured to select paths for the traffic using the communications apparatus, based on information about traffic load in the network and on information about the power consumption modes of the communications apparatus of at least one of the nodes. A power mode controller is also provided for controlling the power consumption modes of the communications apparatus according to information about traffic load and according to information about the paths selected. By combining of path computation and the control of power consumption modes the overall power consumption of the network can be reduced. A slave power mode controller can be provided.