Method And System For Asymmetric Transition Handshake In An Energy Efficient Ethernet Network
First Claim
1. A method for communication, the method comprising:
- in an Ethernet network comprising multi-rate link partners coupled via an Ethernet link, configuring a first of said multi-rate link partners to implement a change of data rate for communication of data from said first multi-rate link partner to a second of said multi-rate link partners, wherein said implemented change occurs independently of delays that occur when said second of said multi-rate link partners implements a change of data rate for communication of data from said second of said multi-rate link partners to said first of said multi-rate link partners.
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Abstract
Multi-rate link partners coupled via an Ethernet link may be configured to implement an asymmetric handshake wherein a change of rate in a first direction may be independent of delay that may occur when implementing a change of rate in a second direction. A rate change may be delayed based on a known time delay for configuring a link partner. A change in rate in the first direction may not be delayed by data transmissions in the second direction. Rate changes may be managed via physical layer control characters, physical layer out of band channel and/or packets generated from a layer above the physical layer. Control characters may be transmitted during inter-packet gaps and/or within a packet stream. Data rates may be transitioned from a full rate, intermediate rate or a rate of zero to a full data rate, intermediate rate or a rate of zero.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for communication, the method comprising:
in an Ethernet network comprising multi-rate link partners coupled via an Ethernet link, configuring a first of said multi-rate link partners to implement a change of data rate for communication of data from said first multi-rate link partner to a second of said multi-rate link partners, wherein said implemented change occurs independently of delays that occur when said second of said multi-rate link partners implements a change of data rate for communication of data from said second of said multi-rate link partners to said first of said multi-rate link partners. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for communication, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:
in an Ethernet network comprising multi-rate link partners coupled via an Ethernet link, configuring a first of said multi-rate link partners to implement a change of data rate for data communicated from said first multi-rate link partner to a second of said multi-rate link partners, wherein said implemented change occurs independently of delays when said second of said multi-rate link partners implements a change of data rate for data communicated from said second of said multi-rate link partners to said first of said multi-rate link partners. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for communication, the system comprising:
one or more circuits in multi-rate link partners coupled via an Ethernet link in an Ethernet network, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to configure a first of said multi-rate link partners to implement a change of data rate for communication of data from said first multi-rate link partner to a second of said multi-rate link partners, and said implemented change occurs independently of delays that occur when said second of said multi-rate link partners implements a change of data rate for communication of data from said second of said multi-rate link partners to said first of said multi-rate link partners. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
Specification