Mechanism to save system power using packet filtering by network interface

A network interface device (204, 220) adapted for connecting a computing device (201) to a network (102), the network interface device comprising:

• circuitry (206) separate from a processor of the computing device that is programmed with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, selectively process a packet received from the network by:
• applying (504) criteria of each of at least one filter (306, 308, 310) to the packet;
• determining (506, 509, 510, 511, 512) an action to perform on the packet, based on whether the packet meets criteria of any of the at least one filter;
• when the determined action comprises discarding the packet, discarding (516) the packet;
• when the determined action comprises indicating the packet to an operating system of the computing device immediately, indicating (508) the packet to the operating system immediately;
• and
• when the determined action comprises delaying indication of the packet to the operating system, storing (518, 520) the packet.

At least one computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed with at least one processor, perform a method of operating a network interface adapted for connecting a computing device to a network, the method comprising:

• receiving sets of filter criteria from an operating system of the computing device;
• programming circuitry of the network interface to process received packets using the sets of filter criteria;
• and
• receiving a packet over the network;
• and
• applying the sets of filter criteria to the packet to determine an action to perform on the packet, the determined action comprising an action selected from the group consisting of indicating the packet to the operating system immediately, delaying indication of the packet to the operating system, and discarding the packet.