Time-division multiplexing to reduce alien crosstalk in cables

A method for mitigating effects of crosstalk in a wire communication network, the method comprising:

• transmitting, by a first transceiver of a first network device, data via a first cable among a plurality of cables;
• transmitting, by a second transceiver of the first network device, data via a second cable among the plurality of cables;
• determining, at circuitry associated with the first transceiver, that transmission of data in the first cable is causing crosstalk in the second cable;
• and
• in response to determining that transmission of the data in the first cable is causing crosstalk in the second cable, entering, with respect to the first transceiver, a low power mode defined by a power saving mechanism to quiet transmission by the first transceiver via the first cable during a plurality of first time periods to reduce crosstalk in the second cable during the plurality of first time periods;
• and
• in response to determining that transmission of the data in the first cable is causing crosstalk in the second cable, using the power saving mechanism, with respect to the second transceiver, to restrict, to the plurality of first time periods, transmission of data by the second transceiver via the second cable.

A communication device in a wired communication network, the communication device comprising:

• a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver being configured to transmit data via a respective cable among a plurality of cables in the wired communication network, and to selectively operate according to a power saving mechanism that defines (i) an active mode for transmitting data to a respective link partner via the respective cable and (ii) a low power mode during which the respective transceiver quiets transmissions to conserve power, the plurality of transceivers including i) a first transceiver configured to communicate via a first cable among the plurality of cables, and il) a second transceiver configured to communicate via a second cable among the plurality of cables;
• and
• a controller that is configured to:
• receive crosstalk level information from the plurality of transceivers, the crosstalk level information indicating respective levels of alien crosstalk in respective cables among the plurality of cables, and
• in response to the crosstalk level information, control multiple transceivers among the plurality of transceivers to operate according to the power saving mechanism to reduce crosstalk, including:
• controlling the first transceiver to operate in the low power mode defined by the power saving mechanism during a plurality of first time periods to reduce crosstalk in the second cable during the plurality of first time periods, and
• control the second transceiver to control the second transceiver to operate according to the power saving mechanism to restrict, to the plurality of first time periods, transmission of data via the second cable.