Sleep signaling handshake for ethernet
AssigneeMarvell Asia Pte Ltd
InventorsHon Wai FUNG, Dance WU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A first communication device performs a handshaking procedure with a second communication device, the handshaking procedure associated with transitioning from an active mode to a low power mode. The first communication device transmits data and/or idle symbols to the second communication device i) after completion of the handshake procedure, and ii) at least until the earlier of a) a time period expiring, and b) determining that the second communication device quieted a transmitter of the second communication device. The first communication device transitions to the low power mode in connection with the handshaking procedure.
Claims21
A first communication device, comprising:
- a physical layer (PHY) processor comprising a transceiver, the PHY processor being configured to perform PHY functions associated with a communication link including transmitting information to a second communication device via a communication medium corresponding to the communication link and receiving information from the second communication device via the communication medium, wherein the PHY processor is configured to transition between an active mode and a low power mode;
- and
- a controller, the controller being configured to:
- control the PHY processor to perform a handshaking procedure with the second communication device for transitioning to the low power mode,
- control the PHY processor to continue to transmit data and/or idle symbols to the second communication device i) after completion of the handshake procedure, and ii) at least until the earlier of a) a time period expiring, and b) determining that the second communication device quieted a transmitter of the second communication device, and
- control the PHY processor to transition to the low power mode in connection with the handshaking procedure.
A method for transitioning a first communication device between an active mode and a low power mode, the method comprising:
- performing, by the first communication device, a handshaking procedure with a second communication device for transitioning to the low power mode;
- transmitting, by the first communication device, data and/or idle symbols to the second communication device i) after completion of the handshake procedure, and ii) at least until the earlier of a) a time period expiring, and b) determining that the second communication device quieted a transmitter of the second communication device;
- and
- transitioning the first communication device to the low power mode in connection with the handshaking procedure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.