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:
Apr. 26, 2016
Filed:
May. 22, 2009
Wael William Diab, San Francisco, CA (US);
Howard Frazier, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Wael William Diab, San Francisco, CA (US);
Howard Frazier, Pleasanton, CA (US);
BROADCOM CORPORATION, Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
In an Ethernet network comprising link partners that are coupled via an Ethernet link, an energy efficient network (EEN) communication control policy may be established above a MAC layer. The EEN control policy may determine a power level mode of operation for the link partners. Power level mode control data may be communicated from hardware, software and/or firmware of upper layer protocols to PHY devices. The control data may specify when, where and/or how long to implement the power level mode. The control data may be communicated via a 'magic' packet comprising start and/or end of frame delimiters and bits that indicate the power level mode. The PHY devices may detect, parse and/or interpret the 'magic' packet and may enter and/or exit a lower power mode of operation. The PHY devices may respond to by generating a magic packet and sending the packet to upper layers.