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US 6,662,234 B2Granted
Transmitting data from a host computer in a reduced power state by an isolation block that disconnects the media access control layer from the physical layer
AssigneeNational Semiconductor Corporation
InventorShelley Cheng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer system controller monitors events. When a host processor enters a reduced-power state, the controller monitors network events, computer system events, and external events. The controller may respond to the events by transmitting frame data over the network. Before transmission, the frame data is stored in a memory.
Claims6
A computer system comprising:
- (a) a host computer;
- (b) an external network interface for connecting the host computer to an external computer network, the external network interface including:
- (i) a host computer physical layer that connects to the external computer network;
- and
- (ii) a host computer media access control layer connected to the host computer through a media independent interface;
- (c) an isolation block connected to the media independent interface between the host computer physical layer and the host computer media access control layer, and
- (d) a network interface controller system that includes:
- (i) a network interface media access control layer connected to the media independent interface;
- (ii) a network interface buffer manager coupled to the network interface media access control layer, and
- (iii) a network interface buffer memory coupled to the network interface buffer manager, the network interface buffer manager being configurable to transfer frame data between the network interface buffer memory and the media independent interface via the network interface media access control layer when the isolation block is activated;
- and
- wherein the isolation block is activated in response to the host computer entering a sleep state such that the host computer media access control layer is disconnected from the host computer physical layer and the network interface controller system is connected to the host computer physical layer to enable transfer of frame data between the network interface buffer memory and the external computer network.
9 more elements
A method of operating a computer system, comprising:
- (a) providing a host computer;
- (b) providing an external network interface for connecting the host computer to an external computer network, the external network interface including:
- (i) a host computer physical layer that connects to the external computer network;
- and
- (ii) a host computer media access control layer connected to the host computer through a media independent interface;
- (c) providing an isolation block connected to the media independent interface between the host computer physical layer and the host computer media access control layer;
- and
- (d) providing a network interface controller system that includes:
- (i) a network interface media access control layer connected to the media independent interface;
- (ii) a network interface buffer manager coupled to the network interface media access control layer;
- and
- (iii) a network interface buffer memory coupled to the network interface buffer manager, the network interface buffer manager being configurable to transfer frame data between the network interface buffer memory and the media independent interface via the network interface media access control layer when the isolation block is activated;
- (e) in response to the host computer entering a sleep state, activating the isolation block such that the host computer media access control layer is disconnected from the host computer physical layer and the network interface controller system is connected to the host computer physical layer;
- and
- (f) transferring frame data between the network interface buffet memory and the external computer network.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.