US 11,637,713 B1Granted

Energy-efficient Ethernet transceiver that adjusts based on environmental conditions

AssigneeMarvell Asia Pte Ltd

InventorsSeid Alireza Razavi Majomard, Ravi Pathakota, Mohit Singh, Ehab Tahir

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Abstract

A physical layer transceiver for a node in a wireline communication system includes receiver circuitry for receiving communications from a link partner on a first link path, transmitter circuitry for transmitting communications to the link partner on a second link path, and an energy-efficient Ethernet (EEE) controller for reducing power consumption on the first or second link path, when activity on that link path is reduced. In a low-power mode, there are periodic refresh intervals of a first duration, during which signals are received or transmitted, and, between the refresh intervals, quiet intervals of a second, longer, duration, during which transmission and reception of signals are avoided. The EEE controller detects a change in an environmental condition affecting that link path, and upon detection of that change, adjusts a parameter of the low-power mode on at least one of the first and second link paths.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A physical layer transceiver for a node in a wireline communication system, the physical layer transceiver comprising:

receiver circuitry configured to receive communications from a link partner on a first link path;
transmitter circuitry configured to transmit communications to the link partner on a second link path;
and
an energy-efficient Ethernet controller configured to reduce power consumption on one of the first link path and the second link path, when activity on the one of the first link path and the second link path is reduced, by entering, on the one of the first link path and the second link path, a low-power mode characterized by:
(i) periodic refresh intervals of a first duration, during which signals are received or transmitted, and
(ii) between the refresh intervals, quiet intervals during which transmission and reception of signals are avoided, the quiet intervals being of a second duration longer than the first duration,
wherein the energy-efficient Ethernet controller is further configured to:
detect a change in an environmental condition affecting one of the first link path and the second link path by:
monitoring at least one of power at one or more locations on the one of the first link path and the second link path, and signal to noise ratio on the one of the first link path and the second link path, and
observing that the at least one of the monitored power at one or more of the one or more locations, and the monitored signal to noise ratio, have values predetermined to indicate changing environmental conditions;
and
upon detection of the change in the environmental condition affecting the one of the first link path and the second link path, adjust a parameter of the low-power mode on at least one of the first link path and the second link path.

9 more elements

A wireline communication system comprising:

a first node and a second node, each node having a respective physical layer transceiver, each respective physical layer transceiver in a respective one of the first node and the second node including:
respective receiver circuitry configured to receive communications from another one of the first node and the second node;
respective transmitter circuitry configured to transmit communications to the other one of the first node and the second node;
and
sensors configured to detect a change in an environmental condition affecting a link path between the first node and the second node, by:
monitoring at least one of power at one or more locations on the one of the first link path and the second link path, and signal to noise ratio on the one of the first link path and the second link path, and
observing that the at least one of the monitored power at one or more of the one or more locations, and the monitored signal to noise ratio, have values predetermined to indicate changing environmental conditions;
wherein:
the respective transmitter circuitry in a respective one of the first node and the second node is configured to, upon detection of the change in the environmental condition affecting the link path, adjust parameters of the link path.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/248,912Filed 12 Feb 2021 · us provisional application
Priority: 14 Feb 2020
Granted: 25 Apr 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H04L 12/10
Details: current supply arrangements
H04L 12/12
Details: arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
H04L 7/0008
Arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter: synchronisation information channels, e.g. clock distribution lines
H04L 41/0816
Characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings: the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events