IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,726,427
Granted Patent B2
US 12,726,427 · App. 18/747,952 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Carbon footprint-based routing of a packet

Inventors: Kushal Sanjivkumar Patel (Pune, IN); Gandhi Sivakumar (Mountain View, CA); Sarvesh Sanjeev Patel (Pune, IN)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H04L45/124H04L45/302
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,726,427
App. No.
18/747,952
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented method (CIM), according to one embodiment, includes, in response to receiving a first packet from a first application, performing a predetermined process for determining a low carbon emission transmission route along a source to a target. The predetermined process includes predicting for each of a plurality of devices between the source and the target, carbon emissions that would result from using the device for transmitting the first packet, and generating a carbon emission map. The predetermined process further includes selecting, from the carbon emission map, a first transmission route that hops along at least one of the devices, where the first transmission route is selected over a second transmission route based on the second transmission route having a greater carbon emission than the first transmission route. The CIM further includes causing the first packet to be transmitted from the source to the target along the first transmission route.

Claims (52)

1 . A computer-implemented method (CIM), the CIM comprising:

in response to receiving a first packet from a first application, performing a predetermined process for determining a relatively low carbon emission transmission route for the first packet along a source to a target, wherein the predetermined process includes:

predicting for each of a plurality of devices between the source and the target, carbon emissions that would result from using the device for transmitting the first packet,

generating a carbon emission map that incorporates the predicted carbon emissions,

identifying a service level agreement (SLA) that applies to the first packet,

wherein the SLA defines a plurality of non-functional requirements (NFRs) that apply to transmission of the first packet,

wherein the NFRs that apply to the transmission of the first packet are decoded from a priority flow control (PFC) and class of service (CoS) values coming from incoming packets including the first packet, and

selecting, from the carbon emission map, a first transmission route for the first packet, wherein the first transmission route hops along at least one of the devices, wherein the first transmission route is selected over a second transmission route for the first packet based on the second transmission route having a relatively greater carbon emission than the first transmission route and based on the second transmission route not satisfying the SLA that applies to the first packet,

wherein the SLA has a relatively higher priority than carbon emissions in the selection of the first transmission route for the first packet; and

causing the first packet to be transmitted from the source to the target along the first transmission route.

2 . The CIM of claim 1 , wherein the first packet is received at a first router, wherein the devices are selected from the group consisting of: a router, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, a network switch, and a server.

3 . The CIM of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined process includes: querying availability for discovering the plurality of devices between the source and the target.

4 . The CIM of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined process includes: dynamically updating the carbon emission map as conditions that have a potential for changing the predicted carbon emissions occur, wherein the carbon emission map includes a plurality of graphical icons that represent the plurality of devices, wherein the graphical icons are color coordinated according to amounts of carbon that the associated devices are predicted to output by transmitting the first packet such that different predetermined ranges of predicted carbon emissions are assigned to the different colors of the graphical icons within the generated carbon emission map.

5 . The CIM of claim 4 , wherein the conditions are selected from the group consisting of: a change in a predicted weather pattern at a geographical location of one of the devices, a predetermined amount of time passing, and at least one of the devices going offline.

6 . The CIM of claim 1 , wherein the NFRs are selected from the group consisting of: a maximum amount of latency, minimum transmission speeds of the first packet, and security requirements for devices used to transmit the first packet.

7 . The CIM of claim 6 , wherein the first transmission route is selected over the second transmission route for the first packet based on the first transmission route satisfying the SLA that applies to the first packet.

8 . The CIM of claim 7 , wherein a third transmission route for the first packet has a relatively lesser carbon emission than the first transmission route, wherein the first transmission route is selected over the third transmission route for the first packet based on the third transmission route not satisfying the SLA that applies to the first packet, and comprising: modifying the priority with respect to the SLA and the carbon emissions according to global warming reports and according to changes of seasons throughout a year.

9 . The CIM of claim 1 , wherein the first packet specifies a first of the devices that is to be used for transmitting the first packet, wherein the first transmission route is selected based on the first transmission route including the first device.

10 . A computer program product (CPP), the CPP comprising:

a set of one or more computer-readable storage media; and

program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media, for causing a processor set to perform the following computer operations:

in response to receiving a first packet from a first application, perform a predetermined process for determining a relatively low carbon emission transmission route for the first packet along a source to a target, wherein the predetermined process includes:

predicting for each of a plurality of devices between the source and the target, carbon emissions that would result from using the device for transmitting the first packet,

generating a carbon emission map that incorporates the predicted carbon emissions,

identifying a service level agreement (SLA) that applies to the first packet,

wherein the SLA defines a plurality of non-functional requirements (NFRs) that apply to transmission of the first packet,

wherein the NFRs that apply to the transmission of the first packet are decoded from a priority flow control (PFC) and class of service (CoS) values coming from incoming packets including the first packet, and

selecting, from the carbon emission map, a first transmission route for the first packet, wherein the first transmission route hops along at least one of the devices, wherein the first transmission route is selected over a second transmission route for the first packet based on the second transmission route having a relatively greater carbon emission than the first transmission route and based on the second transmission route not satisfying the SLA that applies to the first packet,

wherein the SLA has a relatively higher priority than carbon emissions in the selection of the first transmission route for the first packet; and

cause the first packet to be transmitted from the source to the target along the first transmission route.

11 . The CPP of claim 10 , wherein the first packet is received at a first router, wherein the devices are selected from the group consisting of: a router, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, a network switch, and a server.

12 . The CPP of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined process includes: querying availability for discovering the plurality of devices between the source and the target.

13 . The CPP of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined process includes: dynamically updating the carbon emission map as conditions that have a potential for changing the predicted carbon emissions occur, wherein the carbon emission map includes a plurality of graphical icons that represent the plurality of devices, wherein the graphical icons are color coordinated according to amounts of carbon that the associated devices are predicted to output by transmitting the first packet such that different predetermined ranges of predicted carbon emissions are assigned to the different colors of the graphical icons within the generated carbon emission map.

14 . The CPP of claim 13 , wherein the conditions are selected from the group consisting of: a change in a predicted weather pattern at a geographical location of one of the devices, a predetermined amount of time passing, and at least one of the devices going offline.

15 . The CPP of claim 10 , wherein the NFRs are selected from the group consisting of: a maximum amount of latency, minimum transmission speeds of the first packet, and security requirements for devices used to transmit the first packet.

16 . The CPP of claim 15 , wherein the first transmission route is selected over the second transmission route for the first packet based on the first transmission route satisfying the SLA that applies to the first packet.

17 . The CPP of claim 16 , wherein a third transmission route for the first packet has a relatively lesser carbon emission than the first transmission route, wherein the first transmission route is selected over the third transmission route for the first packet based on the third transmission route not satisfying the SLA that applies to the first packet, and the program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media, for causing the processor set to perform the following computer operations: modifying the priority with respect to the SLA and the carbon emissions according to global warming reports and according to changes of seasons throughout a year.

18 . The CPP of claim 10 , wherein the first packet specifies a first of the devices that is to be used for transmitting the first packet, wherein the first transmission route is selected based on the first transmission route including the first device.

19 . A computer system (CS), the CS comprising:

a processor set;

a set of one or more computer-readable storage media; and

program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media, for causing the processor set to perform the following computer operations:

in response to receiving a first packet from a first application, perform a predetermined process for determining a relatively low carbon emission transmission route for the first packet along a source to a target, wherein the predetermined process includes:

predicting for each of a plurality of devices between the source and the target, carbon emissions that would result from using the device for transmitting the first packet,

generating a carbon emission map that incorporates the predicted carbon emissions,

identifying a service level agreement (SLA) that applies to the first packet,

wherein the SLA defines a plurality of non-functional requirements (NFRs) that apply to transmission of the first packet,

wherein the NFRs that apply to the transmission of the first packet are decoded from a priority flow control (PFC) and class of service (CoS) values coming from incoming packets including the first packet, and

selecting, from the carbon emission map, a first transmission route for the first packet, wherein the first transmission route hops along at least one of the devices, wherein the first transmission route is selected over a second transmission route for the first packet based on the second transmission route having a relatively greater carbon emission than the first transmission route and based on the second transmission route not satisfying the SLA that applies to the first packet,

wherein the SLA has a relatively higher priority than carbon emissions in the selection of the first transmission route for the first packet; and

cause the first packet to be transmitted from the source to the target along the first transmission route.

20 . The CS of claim 19 , wherein the first packet is received at a first router, wherein the devices are selected from the group consisting of: a router, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, a network switch, and a server.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2024
From: PATEL, KUSHAL SANJIVKUMAR; SIVAKUMAR, GANDHI; PATEL, SARVESH SANJEEV
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067842/0883 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250392538A1 · Dec 25, 2025
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