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AssigneeMarvell International Ltd.
InventorsWilliam Lo, Francis Campana
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for performing reverse auto-negotiation, in which one network device establishes a link with another network device at a preferred operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) common to both devices without linking twice. The physical layer of a local network device (local PHY) may stall the normal auto-negotiation process with the link partner, while receiving the abilities of the link partner. The local PHY may then transmit a signal having only the preferred common operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) encoded within. The link partner may then conclude that the local PHY is only capable of the preferred common operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) and a link between the two devices may be established at that common mode.
A method of selectively operating first circuitry that communicates with second circuitry so that auto-negotiation of a protocol for communication between the first and second circuitries is modified from basing protocol selection on a first criterion to basing protocol selection on a different second criterion comprising:
Communication circuitry comprising:
Communication circuitry comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.