Method and apparatus for asymmetric ethernet

An integrated circuit (IC), comprising:

• a transceiver circuit, comprising:
• control circuitry configured to generate mode control signals for controlling portions of the transceiver circuit in one or both of a data transfer mode of operation and a low power mode of operation;
• and
• a transmit circuit coupled to the control circuitry, the transmit circuit being configured:
• in response to receiving a first mode control signal, to enter the data transfer mode of operation, and transmit first data over the first communication channel to a link partner;
• and
• in response to receiving a second mode control signal to enter the low power mode of operation and selectively encode information into a refresh signal, the refresh signal for maintaining the first communication channel in an alive state with the link partner, the encoded information comprising information signals other than that required to maintain the first communication channel alive during the low power mode of operation, the transmit circuit to transmit the refresh signal including the encoded information over the first communication channel to the link partner.

An integrated circuit (IC), comprising:

• a first Ethernet transceiver circuit, comprising:
• control circuitry configured to generate mode control signals for controlling portions of the transceiver circuit in one or both of a data transfer mode of operation and a low power mode of operation;
• and
• receiver circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, the receiver circuitry being configured:
• in response to receiving a first mode control signal, to enter the data transfer mode of operation, and to receive first data over a first wired coupling from a link partner;
• and
• in response to receiving a second mode control signal, to enter the low power mode of operation and receive at least one refresh signal, the refresh signal for maintaining the first wired coupling in an alive state with the link partner, the refresh signal including encoded information comprising information signals other than that required to maintain the first wired coupling alive during the low power mode of operation.

A method of operation in an integrated circuit (IC) transceiver, the method comprising:

• generating mode control signals with control circuitry to control portions of the IC transceiver in one or both of a data transfer mode of operation and a low power mode of operation;
• receiving a first mode control signal from the control circuitry with a transmit circuit;
• operating the transmit circuit in the data transfer mode of operation in response to receiving the first mode control signal;
• transmitting during the data transfer mode of operation first data over the first communication channel to a link partner;
• receiving a second mode control signal from the power control circuitry with the transmit circuit;
• operating the transmit circuit in the low power mode of operation in response to receiving the second mode control signal;
• selectively encoding information into a refresh signal during the low power mode of operation, the refresh signal for maintaining the first communication channel in an alive state with the link partner, the information comprising information signals other than that required to maintain the first communication channel alive during the low power mode of operation;
• and
• transmitting the refresh signal including the encoded information over the first communication channel to the link partner.