Broadcom Corporation

Avago Technologies General IP Pte, Ltd.

Gregory Youngblood

Jonathan Fuchuen Lee

John K Lenell

David Wang

David (Wei) Wang

Johathan Lee

Drivers which control hardware devices in a network adapter chip are disabled prior to reducing power to a first portion of circuits in the network adapter chip. Power is received by a second portion of circuits which are utilized for detecting network activity and communicating the activity to processors. Upon network activity detection, the first portion of circuits receives power. Drivers are enabled subsequent to detection. Drivers are enabled after receiving power by the first portion of circuits. Processors control hardware devices, disable devices before power reduction, enable devices after network activity detection and enable devices after receiving power. The network adapter chip is reset for power reception. A power reduction mode is selected where drivers are disabled after reducing power. Drivers are enabled after hardware devices are enabled. A first state is characterized by no signal before disabling drivers. A second state is characterized by signal detection before receiving power.

Operating mode for extreme power savings when no network presence is detected

The present invention relates to a system and method adapted to optimize power consumption in a communication system used in a Gigabit Ethernet environment. The method comprises determining at least one power mode of a host from a plurality of possible host power modes. The method further comprises selecting at least one network interface power management state from a plurality of possible network interface power management states based, at least in part, on the determined power mode.

Method and system for optimizing power consumption in a mobile environment

Certain embodiments of a cable sense mode for intelligent power saving in the absence of a link pulse may include detecting an energy level of an Ethernet link. The Ethernet link may couple a network adapter chip to a network. The power supplied to the network adapter chip may be adjusted based on the detected energy level. Power may be supplied to the network adapter chip if the detected energy level of the Ethernet link is greater than or equal to a particular energy level. Power may be reduced to the network adapter chip if the detected energy level of the Ethernet link is less than a particular energy level. An output signal and/or an interrupt signal may be generated that indicates a change in the detected energy level of the Ethernet link. Power may be provided to the circuitry that generates the output signal and the interrupt signal.

Cable sense mode for intelligent power saving in absence of link pulse

Certain embodiments of an extreme power down mode for extreme power savings when no network presence is detected may comprise disabling at least one device driver for at least one hardware device in a network adapter chip. The device driver may be disabled prior to disabling the hardware device upon starting a power reduction mode for the network adapter chip. The device driver for the hardware device on the network adapter chip may be enabled after enabling the hardware device upon ending a power reduction mode for the network adapter chip. The hardware device may be disabled by reducing power to it. Similarly, power may be provided to the hardware device to enable it. The network adapter chip may be reset to enable the hardware device upon providing power to the hardware device so that the hardware device may be at a known state.

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Gregory Youngblood