Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in network linking system

A method for reducing power consumption in a network linking system, wherein said network linking system comprises a network linking interface device for supporting a plurality of link speeds and a load monitoring module, and said method comprises steps of:

• actuating said network linking interface device as in an autonegotiation mode;
• performing autonegotiation;
• acquiring capability settings for a remote-end network linking interface device;
• linking at a maximum link speed;
• enabling said load monitoring module;
• adjusting a plurality of capability settings of said network linking interface device according to a network load of said network linking interface device;
• and
• performing autonegotiation and linking at a proper link speed based on the adjusted capability settings, wherein said plurality of link speeds includes decreasingly at least a first link speed and at least a second link speed, said step of linking at a proper link speed comprising the steps of:
• providing a first time interval and a first downward switching threshold corresponding to said second link speed;
• disabling the linking ability of said first link speed when the average load of said network linking interface device within said first time interval is lower than said first downward switching threshold;
• and
• re-auto-negotiating with said remote-end network linking interface device to link at said second link speed.

A network device capable of reducing power consumption, comprising:

• a media access controller (MAC);
• and
• a physical layer device, coupled to said media access controller and having a plurality of link speeds including at least a first link speed and at least a second link speed, said at least first link speed exceeding said at least second link speed;
• wherein
• said network device switches among said link speeds according to a load for said network device;
• wherein the linking ability of said network device at said at least first link speed is disabled when the monitored load within a first time interval is lower than a downward switching threshold corresponding to said at least second link speed;
• and
• wherein the linking ability of said network device of said at least second link speed is disabled when the monitored load within a second time interval is higher than an upward switching threshold corresponding to said at least first link speed.