Dynamic ethernet power management

• US 20020196736A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jin, Yucheng
• Granted Patent: US 6,791,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4013 Management of data rate on the bus systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality H04L1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

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.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an interface between a processor and a network comprising:

monitoring data traffic from both a processor side and a network side;

detecting a predetermined period of no data traffic on both sides;

disabling an auto-negotiation mode of the interface; and

forcing the interface to operate at its lowest speed.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing briefly a link signal to allow a peer to adapt to a new speed.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising electrically isolating the network from the interface to allow a peer to adapt to a new speed.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring when in low speed mode, data on both the processor side and the network side.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising upon detecting a predetermined and configurable amount of data, enabling the auto-negotiate mode.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising removing briefly a link signal to allow a peer to adapt to a new speed.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising electrically isolating the network from the interface to allow a peer to adapt to a new speed.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising preventing a speed change if a predetermined period has not occurred since a last speed change.

9. A method for controlling an interface between a processor and a network comprising:

monitoring data traffic from both a processor side and a network side;

detecting a predetermined period of no data traffic on both sides; and

forcing the interface to operate at its lowest speed.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising switching the speed without disabling the auto-negotiation mode.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising forcing an Ethernet controller to advertise a specific speed and forcing a re-auto-negotiation.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising preventing a speed change if a predetermined period has not occurred since a last speed change.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising providing some hysteresis in a response to avoid too frequent speed changes.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising removing briefly a link signal to allow a peer to adapt to a new speed.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising electrically isolating the network from the interface to allow a peer to adapt to a new speed.

16. The method according to claim 9, further comprising monitoring when in low speed mode, data on both the processor side and the network side.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising upon detecting a predetermined and configurable amount of data, enabling the auto-negotiate mode.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising removing briefly a link signal to allow a peer to adapt to a new speed.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising electrically isolating the network from the interface to allow a peer to adapt to a new speed.

20. A method for controlling a communications interface comprising:

monitoring a counter on an input side of the communications interface and monitoring a counter on an output side of the communications interface;

switching to a lower speed mode if detected activity lies below a first threshold for a first predetermined period in both the input and output counters; and

switching to a higher speed mode if detected activity in either one of the input and output counters exceeds a predetermined threshold for a second predetermined period.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the communications interface comprises a plurality of speed modes.

22. The method according to claim 21, where said switching to a lower speed mode includes switching to a next lower speed mode of the plurality of speed modes if not already in a lowest speed mode of the plurality of speed modes.

23. The method according to claim 21, where said switching to a higher speed mode includes switching to a next higher speed mode of the plurality of speed modes if not already in a highest speed mode of the plurality of speed modes.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the communications interface comprises a plurality of speed modes.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, where said processor switches to a next lower speed mode of the plurality of speed modes if the apparatus is not already in a lowest speed mode of the plurality of speed modes.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, where said processor switches to a next higher speed mode of the plurality of speed modes if the apparatus is not already in a highest speed mode of the plurality of speed modes.

29. The computer readable media according to claim 28, wherein the communications interface comprises a plurality of speed modes.

30. The computer readable media according to claim 29, where said switching to a lower speed mode includes switching to a next lower speed mode of the plurality of speed modes if not already in a lowest speed mode of the plurality of speed modes.

31. The method according to claim 21, where said switching to a higher speed mode includes switching to a next higher speed mode of the plurality of speed modes if not already in a highest speed mode of the plurality of speed modes.

24. An apparatus for controlling a communications interface having at least two communications speed modes comprising:

a memory storing a plurality of instructions;

a network interface coupled to an input and output data line and providing incoming and outgoing data signals;

an input counter counting a number of incoming data packets;

an output counter counting a number of outgoing data packets; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the network interface, the input and output counters, and executing the plurality of instructions stored in the memory, and incrementing said input and output counters based on data packets present in said incoming and outgoing data signals, respectively, from said network interface;

said processor further switching the apparatus to a lower speed mode if detected activity lies below a first threshold for a first predetermined period in both the input and output counters and switching to a higher speed mode if detected activity in either one of the input and output counters exceeds a predetermined threshold for a second predetermined period.

28. A computer readable media having programming instructions encoded thereon causing a processor to:

monitor a counter on an input side of the communications interface and monitor a counter on an output side of the communications interface;

switch to a lower speed mode if detected activity lies below a first threshold for a first predetermined period in both the input and output counters; and

switch to a higher speed mode if detected activity in either one of the input and output counters exceeds a second predetermined threshold for a second predetermined period.