Method And System For Near Continuous Data Rate Limit Adjustment Via A Plurality Of Link Variables In An Energy Efficient Network

• US 20090154455A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Diab, Wael William
• Granted Patent: US 8,724,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for near continuous data rate limit adjustment via a plurality of link variables in an energy efficient network. In this regard, power consumption of a network device may be controlled by enabling and/or disabling one or more components in the network device based on an adjustment of a plurality of data rate variables that control a data rate limit at which the network device may communicate. Exemplary data rate variables may comprise a number of active channels of a network link over which the network device communicates, a symbol rate on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates, an inter-frame gap time on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates, a signal constellation utilized for representing signals on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates.

Claims

1. A method for networking, the method comprising:

adjusting one or more data rate variables that control a limit on a data rate at which a network device is enabled to communicate; and

controlling power consumption of said network device by enabling and/or disabling one or more components in said network device based on said adjustment.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more data rate variables comprise a number of active channels over which said network device communicates.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more data rate variables comprise a symbol rate on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more data rate variables comprise an inter-frame gap time on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more data rate variables comprise a signal constellation utilized for representing signals on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising selecting said signal constellation from a 128-DSQ signal constellation and an 8-DSQ signal constellation.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising disabling low density parity check encoding when said 8-DSQ signal constellation is selected.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising disabling low density parity check decoding when said 8-DSQ signal constellation is selected.

9. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for networking, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

adjusting one or more data rate variables that control a limit on a data rate at which a network device is enabled to communicate; and

controlling power consumption of said network device by enabling and/or disabling one or more components in said network device based on said adjustment.

10. The machine-readable storage according to claim 9, wherein said data rate variables comprise a number of active channels over which said network device communicates.

11. The machine-readable storage according to claim 9, wherein said data rate variables comprise a symbol rate on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 9, wherein said data rate variables comprise an inter-frame gap time on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 9, wherein said data rate variables comprise a signal constellation utilized for representing signals on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 13, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for selecting said signal constellation from a 128-DSQ signal constellation and a 8-DSQ signal constellation.

15. The machine-readable storage according to claim 14, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for disabling low density parity check encoding when said 8-DSQ signal constellation is selected.

16. The machine-readable storage according to claim 15, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for disabling low density parity check decoding when said 8-DSQ signal constellation is selected.

17. A system for networking, the system comprising:

one or more circuits operable to;

adjust one or more of data rate variables that control a limit on a data rate at which a network device is enabled to communicate; and

control power consumption of said network device by enabling and/or disabling one or more components in said network device based on said adjustment.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said data rate variables comprise a number of active channels over which said network device communicates.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said data rate variables comprise a symbol rate on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein said data rate variables comprise an inter-frame gap time on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein said data rate variables comprise a signal constellation utilized for representing signals on an Ethernet link over which said network device communicates.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to select said signal constellation from a 128-DSQ signal constellation and a 8-DSQ signal constellation.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to disable low density parity check encoding when said 8-DSQ signal constellation is selected.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to disable low density parity check decoding when said 8-DSQ signal constellation is selected.