Network interface for reduced host sleep interruption

A network interface device for reduced host sleep interruption, the network interface device comprising:

• a buffer;
• a first module configured to determine that a packet received via a wireless network does not need to be immediately processed by a sleeping machine and storing the packet in the buffer;
• and
• a second module configured to determine, during a period of predetermined receive inactivity, that the packet stored in the buffer can be processed by the network interface device without waking the machine and processing the packet without waking the machine, wherein the period of predetermined receive inactivity is a power save mode period.

A network interface device for reduced host sleep interruption, the network interface device comprising:

• a host interface configured to be coupled to a machine that is either idle or asleep, the host interface configured to communicate data from the network interface device to the machine, the machine configured to wake-upon receipt of the data from the host interface;
• a buffer;
• and
• a module configured to:
• receive a packet via a receive chain, the receive chain coupling the network interface device to a network;
• determine, using a first analysis operation, a preliminary packet type for the packet;
• place in the buffer, in response to determining that the packet is of a first preliminary type, the packet;
• communicate, in response to determining that the packet is of a second preliminary type, the packet to the machine using the host interface;
• determine, in response to deactivation of the receive chain using a second analysis operation, a secondary packet type for the packet in the buffer;
• process, in response to determining that the packet is of a first secondary type, the packet from the buffer without communicating with the machine;
• and
• communicate, in response to determining that the packet is of a second secondary type, the packet to the machine using the host interface.

A machine readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations for reduced host sleep interruption, the operations comprising:

• receiving a packet via a receive chain coupling a network interface device to a network, the network interface device including a buffer and a host interface, the host interface configured to communicate data from the network interface device to a host machine, the host machine configured to wake-upon receipt of the data from the host interface;
• determining a preliminary packet type for the packet using a first analysis operation;
• preliminarily processing the packet based on the determined preliminary packet type, the preliminary processing including:
• placing the packet in the buffer if the packet is of a first preliminary type;
• and
• determining, in response to deactivation of the receive chain, a secondary packet type for the packet in the buffer using a second analysis operation;
• secondarily processing the packet in the buffer based on the determined secondary packet type, the secondary processing including:
• processing the packet from the buffer without communicating with the machine if the packet is of a first secondary type;
• and
• communicating the packet to the host machine using the host interface if the packet is of a second secondary type;
• and
• communicating the packet to the host machine using the host interface if the packet is of a second preliminary type.

A method for reduced host sleep interruption, the method comprising:

• placing a first packet received via a receive chain into a buffer, the first packet of a first preliminary type, the receive chain coupling a network interface device to a network, the network interface device including the buffer;
• processing the first packet from the buffer without communicating with a machine serviced by the network interface device, the first packet of a second secondary type, the processing of the first packet including an operation chosen from the group of dropping the packet and responding to the packet;
• placing a second packet received via the receive chain into the buffer, the second packet of the first preliminary type and a second secondary type;
• communicating the second packet from the buffer to the machine using the host interface;
• and
• communicating a third packet received via the receive chain to the machine using the host interface, the third packet of a second preliminary type.