The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 20, 2001
Yucheng Jin, Chalfont, PA (US);
General Instrument Corporation, Horsham, PA (US);
Abstract
To reduce power consumption of a communications interface between a network and a processor, a method for controlling the interface monitors data traffic from sides of the interface. Upon detecting a predetermined period of no data traffic on both sides, the method disables an auto-negotiation mode of the interface and forces the interface to operate at its lowest speed. Prior to changing speed, the method may briefly remove a link signal or electrically isolate the network and the network interface to allow a peer to adapt to a new speed. When in the low speed mode, the method monitors data on both the processor side and the network side. Upon detecting a predetermined and configurable amount of data, the method enables the auto-negotiate mode. Prior to increasing the speed, the method may briefly remove a link signal to allow a peer to adapt to the new speed. Hysteresis may be included to prevent a speed change if a predetermined period has not occurred since a last speed change. The speed mode can be changed without disabling auto-negotiation by forcing the controller to advertise a specific speed and then forcing re-auto-negotiation. For multiple speed modes, switching occurs to a lower speed mode if detected activity lies below a threshold for a predetermined period in both input and output counters, and to a higher speed mode if detected activity in either one of the input and output counters exceeds a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period. An apparatus and computer readable media for performing the above methods are also disclosed.