Low Power Consumption Network Device and Communication Method Thereof

A network communication method applied in a network device, the network device transmitting data between a link partner through a network, the method comprising:

• detecting a data rate of the network device;
• determining an operating mode of the network device according to the data rate, and generating an instruction signal;
• controlling a power consumption state of the network device according to the instruction signal;
• according to the data rate, determining whether the network device transmits a pause frame to the link partner so that the link partner stops data transmission during a pause period;
• and
• controlling the network device to be operated in a power saving mode during the pause period.

A network device, comprising:

• a data rate meter for detecting a data rate of the network device;
• a state machine unit coupled to the data rate meter for determining an operating mode of the network device according to the data rate and for generating an instruction signal;
• and
• a power control unit coupled to the state machine unit for controlling a power consumption state of the network device according to the instruction signal;
• wherein the state machine unit determines whether the network device transmits a pause frame according to the data rate, and after the pause frame is transmitted out, the state machine unit determines that the operating mode is a power saving mode and the power control unit reduces the power consumption of the network device so that the network device is operated in the power saving mode.