Ethernet phy, communication system, and method for the ethernet phy

An Ethernet Phy comprising:

• an analog interface for connecting to a communication media,
• a digital interface, and
• a wake-up interface,
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to change from a sleep mode to an active mode, or vice versa,
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to receive a first analog signal via the analog interface, wherein the first analog signal represents an Ethernet frame,
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to transmit the Ethernet frame in the active mode only via the digital interface,
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to receive a first wake-up signal in the sleep mode via the wake-up interface, the first wake-up signal representing one of a first wake-up identifier or a second wake-up identifier,
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to change from the sleep mode to the active mode in response to the first wake-up signal representing one of the first wake-up identifier, and
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to remain in the sleep mode in response to the first wake-up signal representing the second wake-up identifier.

An Ethernet Phy comprising:

• an analog interface for connecting to a communication media,
• a digital interface, and
• a wake-up interface,
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to change from a sleep mode to an active mode, or vice versa,
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to receive a first analog signal via the analog interface, wherein the first analog signal represents an Ethernet frame,
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to receive a third analog signal via the analog interface, wherein the third analog signal represents a first wake-up instruction,
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to change from the sleep mode to the active mode in response to receiving the first wake-up instruction,
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to transmit the Ethernet frame only in active mode via the digital interface, and
• wherein the Ethernet Phy is configured to transmit a first wake-up signal representing a first wake-up identifier via the wake-up interface in response to receiving the first wake-up instruction.

An Ethernet System comprising:

• a first Ethernet Phy,
• a second Ethernet Phy, and
• an Ethernet switch unit,
• wherein the first Ethernet Phy comprising an analog interface for connecting to a communication media, a digital interface, and a wake-up interface, wherein the first Ethernet Phy is configured to change from a sleep mode to an active mode, or vice versa, wherein the first Ethernet Phy is configured to receive a first analog signal via the analog interface, wherein the first analog signal represents an Ethernet frame, wherein the first Ethernet Phy is configured to transmit the received Ethernet frame in the active mode only via the digital interface, wherein the first Ethernet Phy is configured to receive a first wake-up signal in the sleep mode via the wake-up interface representing a first wake-up identifier or a second wake-up identifier, wherein the first Ethernet Phy is configured to change from the sleep mode to the active mode in response to the first wake-up signal representing one of the first wake-up identifier or the second wake-up identifier, and wherein the first Ethernet Phy is configured to remain in the sleep mode in response to the first wake-up signal representing the other one of the first wake-up identifier or the second wake-up identifier;
• wherein the second Ethernet Phy comprising:
• an analog interface for connecting to the communication media, a digital interface, and a wake-up interface, wherein the second Ethernet Phy is configured to change from a sleep mode to an active mode, or vice versa, wherein the second Ethernet Phy is configured to receive further first analog signal via the analog interface, wherein the further first analog signal represents another Ethernet frame, wherein the second Ethernet Phy is configured to receive a third analog signal via the analog interface, wherein the third analog signal represents a second wake-up instruction, wherein the second Ethernet Phy is configured to change from the sleep mode to the active mode in response to receiving the second wake-up instruction, wherein the second Ethernet Phy is configured to transmit the received Ethernet frame only in active mode via the digital interface, and wherein the second Ethernet Phy is configured to transmit a second wake-up signal representing a wake-up identifier via the wake-up interface in response to receiving the second wake-up instruction;
• wherein the Ethernet switch unit is connected to the digital interface of each of the Ethernet Phys,
• wherein the Ethernet switch unit is configured to forward data from one of the digital interfaces to the at least one other digital interface, and
• wherein the wake-up interfaces of the Ethernet Phys are coupled by a dedicated wake-up media.