Network Connectivity Proxy: An optimal strategy for reducing energy waste in network edge devices

A network connected host generates/responds to routine applications and protocols heart-beat messages and is considered as disconnected when it fails to do this. Past studies have revealed that about 60-70% people leave their computers powered up 24/7 in the offices and at homes just to maintain the network connectivity. Huge amount of energy savings are possible if these computers can sleep during idle periods but still maintaining their network presence. Thus, a Network Connectivity Proxy (NCP) can be designed which is a software entity running on a low power network hardware such as switch or router and maintains the network connectivity for high power devices during their sleep periods. This paper describes the design, implementation and evaluation of a cooperative NCP that maintains the basic network and application level presence for the sleeping hosts. It also addresses the generic architecture of our NCP and its client softwares.