Network interface with low power data transfer and methods for use therewith
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorsManav ., James Graba
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network interface includes a physical layer device coupled to a network link. A media access control module communicates with a link partner over the network link. An energy controller monitors a link utilization level of the network link and transitions, in response to the monitoring, the media access control module and the physical layer device to a low power idle mode, wherein the low power idle mode includes periodic transmission of a plurality of refresh frames in a refresh cycle and wherein at least one of the plurality of refresh frames is modified to include at least one first data payload.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- communicating via a network interface in an active mode with a link partner over a network link;
- monitoring, via the network interface, a link utilization level of the network link;
- transitioning, in response to the monitoring, the network interface to a low power idle mode, wherein the low power idle mode includes periodic transmission of a plurality of refresh frames in a refresh cycle and wherein at least one of the plurality of refresh frames is modified to include at least one first data payload.
An Ethernet interface comprising:
- a physical layer device coupled to a network link that operates in accordance with a 802.3 standard;
- a media access control module, coupled to the physical layer device, for communicating with a link partner over the network link;
- an energy controller, coupled to the physical layer device and the media access control module for monitoring a link utilization level of the network link and transitioning, in response to the monitoring, the media access control module and the physical layer device to a low power idle mode, wherein the low power idle mode includes periodic transmission of a plurality of refresh frames in a refresh cycle and wherein at least one of the plurality of refresh frames is modified to include at least one first data payload.
A network interface comprising:
- a physical layer device coupled to a network link;
- a media access control module, coupled to the physical layer device, for communicating with a link partner over the network link;
- an energy controller, coupled to the physical layer device and the media access control module for monitoring a link utilization level of the network link and transitioning, in response to the monitoring, the media access control module and the physical layer device to a low power idle mode, wherein the low power idle mode includes periodic transmission of a plurality of refresh frames in a refresh cycle and wherein at least one of the plurality of refresh frames is modified to include at least one first data payload.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.