# US 12,001,267 B1 · Asymmetric data transmission using energy-efficient ethernet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,001,267 B1 - Document ID: US12001267B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/307,341 - Filed: 2023-04-26 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-28 - Assignees: Ethernovia Inc. - Applicants: Ethernovia Inc. - Inventors: Hossein Sedarat; Ramin Shirani; Roy T. Myers, Jr.; Darren S. Engelkemier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12001267B1 ## CPC - G06F 1/3296: by lowering the supply or operating voltage - H04L 12/12: Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof - G06F 1/3209: Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections - G06F 1/324: by lowering clock frequency - G06F 1/3278: {Power saving in modem or I/O interface} - H04L 12/10: Current supply arrangements - Y02D 30/50: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Various embodiments provide for asymmetric data transmission using Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE), which can be used in such applications as data network communications between sensors (e.g., cameras, motion, radar, etc.) and computing equipment within vehicles (e.g., smart and autonomous cars). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a first physical layer device configured to communicate data with a second physical layer device over a data transmission medium using an Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) standard, the first physical layer device being further configured to perform operations comprising: while in a low power consumption mode, receiving a set of refresh signals and a set of data frames during a set of periods, each period of the set of periods comprising a sequence of quiet-refresh cycles, the receiving the set of refresh signals and the set of data frames comprising: within an individual quiet-refresh cycle in the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles: receiving, from the second physical layer device, a refresh signal as defined by the Energy Efficient Ethernet standard; and receiving, from the second physical layer device, a certain number of data frames from the set of data frames after receiving the refresh signal but prior to receiving a next quiet time, the certain number being determined according to a predetermined pattern for receiving data frames during the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles, the predetermined pattern being determined between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device during a negotiation period between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device, the negotiation period occurring prior to or during establishment of a data link between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the Energy Efficient Ethernet standard is based on IEEE 802.3ch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: during the individual quiet-refresh cycle: receiving, from the second physical layer device, a wake signal after the refresh signal, the receiving the certain number of data frames being performed after the receiving the wake signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving the set of refresh signals and the set of data frames further comprises: for at least another quiet-refresh cycle in the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles: receiving, from the second physical layer device, a second refresh signal, the second refresh signal being followed by receipt of another refresh signal, wherein no data frames are received by the first physical layer device from the second physical layer device between the second refresh signal and the other refresh signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein by the receiving the certain number of data frames, the first physical layer device supports a first data transmission rate of the second physical layer device while in the low power consumption mode, the first data transmission rate being slower than or equal to a second data transmission rate available while in a normal power mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a media access controller layer device, the operations further comprise: receiving a request from the media access controller layer device; and in response to receiving the request, transitioning from a normal power mode to the low power consumption mode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a media access controller layer device, the operations further comprise: after the set of periods, transitioning from the low power consumption mode to a normal power mode in response to a request from the media access controller layer device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a media access controller layer device, the low power consumption mode comprising at least one of a low power data (LPD) mode, and the operations further comprising: after the set of periods, transitioning from the low power consumption mode to a lower power idle (LPI) mode in response to a request from the media access controller layer device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first physical layer device transitions to the low power consumption mode after training is performed between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the certain number of data frames comprises at least one data frame that is transmitted by the second physical layer device using at least one PAM2 modulation or PAM4 modulation. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: a first physical layer device configured to communicate data with a second physical layer device over a data transmission medium using an Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) standard, the first physical layer device being further configured to perform operations comprising: while in a low power consumption mode, during a period comprising a sequence of quiet-refresh cycles: receiving, from the second physical layer device, a first refresh signal during each quiet-refresh cycle of a first portion of the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles, the first refresh signal being defined by the Energy Efficient Ethernet standard; and during each quiet-refresh cycle of a second portion of the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles where the second portion follows the first portion: receiving, from the second physical layer device, a second refresh signal as defined by the Energy Efficient Ethernet standard; and receiving, from the second physical layer device, a certain number of data frames after receiving the second refresh signal but prior to receiving a next quiet time, the certain number being determined according to a predetermined pattern for receiving data frames during the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles, the predetermined pattern being determined between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device during a negotiation period between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device, the negotiation period occurring prior to or during establishment of a data link between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise: during each quiet-refresh cycle of the second portion of the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles: receiving, from the second physical layer device, a wake signal after the second refresh signal, the receiving the certain number of data frames being performed after the receiving the wake signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the first refresh signal comprises a first type of refresh signal, the second refresh signal comprises a second type of refresh signal, and the second type of refresh signal is transmitted by the second physical layer device with a longer time duration than the first type of refresh signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the first refresh signal comprises a first type of refresh signal, the second refresh signal comprises a second type of refresh signal, and the second type of refresh signal comprises training data and non-training data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise: after the second portion of the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles, receiving, from the second physical layer device, the first refresh signal during each quiet-refresh cycle of a second sequence of quiet-refresh cycles that follows the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles, the second sequence of quiet-refresh cycles comprising a same number of quiet-refresh cycles as the first sequence of quiet-refresh cycles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein each quiet-refresh cycle of the first portion of the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles comprises a first duration of quiet time, each quiet-refresh cycle of the second portion of the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles comprises a second duration of quiet time, and the second duration of quiet time is shorter than the first duration of quiet time. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: while a first physical layer device is in a low power consumption mode, receiving a set of refresh signals and a set of data frames during a set of periods from a second physical layer device, the first physical layer device being configured to communicate data with the second physical layer device over a data transmission medium using an Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) standard, each period of the set of periods comprising a sequence of quiet-refresh cycles, the receiving the set of refresh signals and the set of data frames comprising from the second physical layer device: within an individual quiet-refresh cycle in the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles: receiving, at the first physical layer device from the second physical layer device, a refresh signal as defined by the Energy Efficient Ethernet standard; and receiving, at the first physical layer device from the second physical layer device, a certain number of data frames from the set of data frames after receiving the refresh signal but prior to a next quiet time, the certain number being determined according to a predetermined pattern for receiving data frames during the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles, the predetermined pattern being determined between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device during a negotiation period between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device, the negotiation period occurring prior to or during establishment of a data link between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the refresh signal is received every Nth quiet-refresh cycle in a period of quiet-refresh cycles based on the Energy Efficient Ethernet standard. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the refresh signal comprises training data and non-training data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the certain number of data frames comprises at least one data frame that is transmitted by the second physical layer device using at least one PAM2 modulation or PAM4 modulation.