De-activation, at least in part, of receiver, in response, at least in part, to determination that an idle condition exists

• US 20040228275A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Hadar, Yaniv, Gutman, Mickey, Costo, Avi, Sigler, Vicky
• Granted Patent: US 8,000,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method is provided. In the method of this embodiment, in response, at least in part, to a determination that an idle condition exists, one or more packets may be transmitted to indicate, at least in part, that a transmitter is desired to refrain from transmitting, during one or more predetermined time intervals, to a receiver. Also in the method of this embodiment, also in response, at least in part, to the determination that the idle condition exists, the receiver may be de-activated, at least in part, during the one or more predetermined time intervals. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in response, at least in part, to a determination that an idle condition exists, transmitting one or more packets to indicate, at least in part, that a transmitter is desired to refrain from transmitting, during one or more predetermined time intervals, to a receiver; and

also in response, at least in part, to the determination that the idle condition exists, de-activating, at least in part, the receiver during the one or more predetermined time intervals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more packets comprise one or more flow control packets in accordance with an Ethernet protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

after the de-activating, at least in part, of the receiver, re-activating, at least in part, the receiver; and

attempting to re-establish communication with the transmitter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more packets indicate, at least in part, that the receiver is not ready to receive one or more other packets from the transmitter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

after the de-activating, at least in part, of the receiver, re-activating, at least in part, the receiver; and

transmitting one or more other packets to indicate that the transmitter is no longer desired to refrain from transmitting to the receiver.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the idle condition exists.

7. An apparatus comprising:

circuitry capable of transmitting, in response, at least in part, to a determination that an idle condition exists, one or more packets to indicate, at least in part, that a transmitter is desired to refrain from transmitting, during one or more predetermined time intervals, to a receiver, the circuitry also being capable of, in response, at least in part, to the determination that the idle condition exists, de-activating, at least in part, the receiver during the one or more predetermined time intervals.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the one or more packets comprise one or more flow control packets in accordance with an Ethernet protocol.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the circuitry is also capable of, after the de-activating, at least in part, of the receiver, re-activating, at least in part, the receiver; and

the circuitry is also capable of attempting to re-establish communication with the transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the one or more packets indicate, at least in part, that the receiver is not ready to receive one or more other packets from the transmitter.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the circuitry is also capable of, after the de-activating, at least in part, of the receiver, re-activating, at least in part, the receiver; and

the circuitry is also capable of transmitting one or more other packets to indicate that the transmitter is no longer desired to refrain from transmitting to the receiver.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the circuitry is also capable of determining, at least in part, whether the idle condition exists.

13. An article comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following;

in response, at least in part, to a determination that an idle condition exists, transmitting one or more packets to indicate, at least in part, that a transmitter is desired to refrain from transmitting, during one or more predetermined time intervals, to a receiver; and

also in response, at least in part, to the determination that the idle condition exists, de-activating, at least in part, the receiver during the one or more predetermined time intervals.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein:

the one or more packets comprise one or more flow control packets in accordance with an Ethernet protocol.

15. The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed by the machine also result in:

after the de-activating, at least in part, of the receiver, re-activating, at least in part, the receiver; and

attempting to re-establish communication with the transmitter.

16. The article of claim 13, wherein:

the one or more packets indicate, at least in part, that the receiver is not ready to receive one or more other packets from the transmitter.

17. The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed by the machine also result in:

after the de-activating, at least in part, of the receiver, re-activating, at least in part, the receiver; and

transmitting one or more other packets to indicate that the transmitter is no longer desired to refrain from transmitting to the receiver.

18. The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed by the machine also result in:

determining whether the idle condition exists.

19. A system comprising:

a circuit board comprising a circuit card slot;

a circuit card capable of being coupled to the slot, the circuit card comprising circuitry capable of transmitting, in response, at least in part, to a determination that an idle condition exists, one or more packets to indicate, at least in part, that a transmitter is desired to refrain from transmitting, during one or more predetermined time intervals, to a receiver, the circuitry also being capable of, in response at least in part to the determination that the idle condition exists, de-activating, at least in part, the receiver during the one or more predetermined time intervals.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the circuit board comprises a bus and a host processor coupled to the bus; and

when the circuit card is coupled to the slot, the circuitry is coupled to the bus.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the communication protocol is an Ethernet protocol.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a cable to couple the receiver to the transmitter, and to propagate the one or more packets.