Method for handling configuration data for an interconnection protocol within hibernate operation, controller, and electronic device

A controller for a first device that is linkable to a second device according to an interconnection protocol, the controller comprising:

• a memory in a first power domain, wherein the first power domain is on in a hibernation state of the interconnection protocol;
• an index table unit configured to provide an index table, wherein the index table includes attribute identifiers corresponding to a plurality of management information base (MIB) attributes, the MIB attributes belong to sub-layers of a link layer of the interconnection protocol and are required to be retained during hibernation;
• and
• a hardware protocol engine, coupled to the memory, for implementing the link layer of the interconnection protocol, wherein in response to a hibernation entering indication signal indicating entering the hibernation state of the interconnection protocol, the hardware protocol engine further performs MIB attribute storing to read, for each one of the sub-layers, attribute data from the one of the sub-layers according to corresponding attribute identifiers from the index table sequentially and to write the attribute data read from the one of the sub-layers sequentially to the memory,
• wherein the hardware protocol engine is in a second power domain independent of the first power domain;
• and after the hardware protocol engine enters the hibernation state, the second power domain is in a power saving state or off while the first power domain remains on.

An electronic device, operable to link to another electronic device according to an interconnection protocol, the electronic device comprising:

• an interface circuit for implementing a physical layer of the interconnection protocol to link to the another electronic device;
• a memory in a first power domain, wherein the first power domain is on in a hibernation state of the interconnection protocol;
• an index table unit configured to provide an index table, wherein the index table includes attribute identifiers corresponding to a plurality of management information base (MIB) attributes, the MIB attributes belong to sub-layers of a link layer of the interconnection protocol and are required to be retained during hibernation;
• and
• a hardware protocol engine, coupled to the interface circuit and the memory, for implementing the link layer of the interconnection protocol, wherein in response to a hibernation entering indication signal indicating entering the hibernation state of the interconnection protocol, the hardware protocol engine further performs MIB attribute storing to read, for each one of the sub-layers, attribute data from the one of the sub-layers according to corresponding attribute identifiers from the index table sequentially and to write the attribute data read from the one of the sub-layers sequentially to the memory,
• wherein the hardware protocol engine is in a second power domain independent of the first power domain;
• and after the hardware protocol engine enters the hibernation state, the second power domain is in a power saving state or off while the first power domain remains on.