Broadcom Corporation

Richard G Thousand

Kevin Brown

Kevin Tunghai Chan

John L Creigh

Mark Berman

Walter Hurwitz

Gary S Huff

Garry Huff

The present invention provides a way of placing a physical layer device into a standby mode. After a link is established between multiple devices, a determination is made whether the device has data to transmit or whether a standby request was received from a link partner. If a standby request was received or the device has no data to transmit, standby mode is entered. In standby mode, unneeded circuitry is powered down. A transmitter in a channel and a receive path in a separate channel remain powered. While operating in standby mode, the PHY layer continuously transmits a standby code on the one or more channels that are not powered down. Standby mode is discontinued when a transceiver has data to transmit or when energy is detected on the powered down channels. Standby mode is also discontinued when no standby code is received, indicating a disconnect between devices.

Standby mode for use in a device having a multiple channel physical layer

The invention allows data originating according to a first communications standard to be transmitted over a physical layer using a second communications standard. According to an embodiment of the invention, a data stream is received from a physical transmission medium that uses particular first communications standard. Next, a data type identification (DTID) is appended to each byte in the data stream, thereby creating a technology independent data stream having a particular bit rate. This bit rate is then matched to a different bit rate that corresponds to a second communications standard. The technology independent data stream is then transmitted over a physical transmission medium that uses the second communications standard.

Apparatus and method for communicating arbitrarily encoded data over a 1-gigabit ethernet

The present invention describes a communications system having a first link partner and a second link partner that are connected by a communications link having at least four pairs of conductors. According to IEEE Standard 802.3 (e.g. Ethernet) for 1000Base-T, a data link is maintained (in a period absent data transmission) by sending idle signals over four pairs of conductors of the cable to maintain a logical connection. This idle signal scheme is replaced with an alternate idle signaling scheme that uses only two pairs of conductors to maintain a logical connection and therefore can operate with using lower power. The other two pairs of conductors of the four pairs of conductors are unused to maintain a logical connection absent data transfer, and therefore can be used to implement a Suspend Mode of operation. During Suspend Mode, the physical layer of each link partner powers down unnecessary circuitry so as to operate in a low power environment. To initiate the Suspend Mode, idle signals are sent on one of the un-used pairs of the conductors mentioned above. To exit Suspend mode, idle signals are sent on respective conductors simultaneously.

Apparatus and method for implementing a suspend mode in an ethernet-based communications system

A communication system includes a first device and a second device that can advertise multiple capabilities using communication links. A first type of auto-negotiation between the first and second devices is performed using a first communication link between the devices. A second communication link between the devices is used to facilitate a second type of auto-negotiation. For example, the first communication link can include pairs A and B of an IEEE Std. 802.3 four twisted pair cable. The second communication link can include pairs C and D of the cable.

Apparatus and method for auto-negotiation in a communication system

Apparatus and method for implementing a suspend mode in an Ethernet-based communications system

Methods and Systems for transmitting data originating according to a first communications standard over a physical layer using a second communications standard are provided. A data stream is received from a physical transmission medium that uses particular first communications standard. Next, a data type identification (DTID) is appended to each byte in the data stream, thereby creating a technology independent data stream having a particular bit rate. This bit rate is then matched to a different bit rate that corresponds to a second communications standard. The technology independent data stream is then transmitted over a physical transmission medium that uses the second communications standard.

Energy detect with auto pair select for energy management without 'a priori' knowledge of the wire pairs connectivity. The energy detect with auto pair select is operable within systems performing automatic detection of connectivity in systems that employ the Ethernet based media dependent interface crossover (MDIX). Where there has been some cross-over of pairs within the system, a situation not uncommon in many networks, the energy detect with auto pair select is operable to perform energy management without knowledge of the pair connectivity. Selection or detection of coupled wire pairs is acquired by energy detection of coupled wire pairs via a state machine that analyzes a qualified energy level.

Energy detect with auto pair select

Energy detect with auto pair select. The present invention is operable without 'a priori' knowledge of the pairs' connectivity. In addition, the present invention is operable within systems performing automatic detection of connectivity in systems that employ the Ethernet based media dependent interface crossover (MDIX). Where there has been some cross-over of pairs within the system, a situation not uncommon in many networks, the present invention is operable to perform energy management even without having any knowledge of the pair connectivity. Knowledge relating to the energy of multiple pairs is used to perform energy detect and management. A state machine operates in performing the analysis of the energy using a qualified energy level. The present invention is also operable within systems that do not employ auto-negotiation. In systems where auto-negotiation is performed, the present invention is performed before the auto-negotiation to determine if an operable partner exists within the network.

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Ankeny, IA, United States of America

Richard G Thousand