SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A MoCA POWER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

• US 20100031297A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kliger, Avraham, Klein, Philippe, Ohana, Yitshak
• Granted Patent: US 9,112,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• 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 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0222 in packet switched networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for performing a method for reducing power consumption in MoCA devices that are connected via a coax network are provided. One method according to the invention includes, in a home network having a plurality of network modules, one of said plurality of network modules being a network controller, each of said plurality of network modules being connected to a coax backbone, communicating over the coax backbone between the plurality of network modules. The method further includes using the master module to receive requests sent over the coax backbone from the plurality of network modules for bandwidth to transmit bursts. The master module may establish an order of transmission opportunities for the plurality of network modules to follow when transmitting bursts directly to other network modules via the coax backbone. The method may also include using the master module to toggle each of the networked modules between a running power state and a standby power state. The standby power state may include an active mode and an idle mode. In the active mode, a networked node is configured to transmit and/or receive packets of information. In the idle mode, the networked node is configured to maintain a link to the network while powering down a portion of the circuit blocks, thereby reducing power consumption of the networked node.

Claims

1. A network over coaxial cable, the network comprising:

a network controller;

a plurality of networked nodes, each of the networked nodes comprising an integrated circuit, each of the integrated circuits comprising a plurality of circuit blocks;

wherein each of the networked nodes is configurable to be in;

a running power state; and

a standby power state, the standby power state including an active mode and an idle mode; and

wherein;

in the active mode, a networked node is configured to transmit and/or receive packets of information; and

,

in the idle mode, the networked node is configured to maintain a link to the network while powering down a portion of the circuit blocks, thereby reducing power consumption of the networked node.

2. The network of claim 1 wherein each of the networked nodes is configurable to switch from the idle mode to the active mode after a pre-determined number of Media Access Plans (“

MAP”

).

3. The network of claim 1 wherein each of the networked nodes is configurable to switch from the idle mode to the active mode following a network beacon signal.

4. The network of claim 1 wherein each of the networked nodes is configurable to receive an interrupt signal via the link to the network.

5. The network of claim 1 wherein the portion of the circuit blocks includes the clock portion that provides the clock signal to a digital PHY layer.

6. The network of claim 1 wherein the portion of the circuit blocks includes the clock portion that provides the clock signal to a Media Access Controller layer.

7. In a home network having a plurality of network modules, one of said plurality of network modules being a network controller, each of said plurality of network modules being connected to a coax backbone, a method for communicating over the coax backbone between the plurality of network modules, the method comprising:

using the master module to receive requests sent over the coax backbone from the plurality of network modules for bandwidth to transmit bursts;

establishing an order of transmission opportunities for the plurality of network modules to follow when transmitting bursts directly to other network modules via the coax backbone; and

using the master module to toggle each of the networked modules between a running power state and a standby power state, the standby power state including an active mode and an idle mode;

wherein;

in the active mode, a networked node is configured to transmit and/or receive packets of information; and

,

in the idle mode, the networked node is configured to maintain a link to the network while powering down a portion of the circuit blocks, thereby reducing power consumption of the networked node.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising switching a network module from the idle mode to the active mode after a pre-determined number of Media Access Plans (“

MAP”

).

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising switching a network module from the idle mode to the active mode following a network beacon signal.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising configuring a network module to receive an interrupt signal via the link to the network.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising gating a clock signal that is provided to a digital PHY layer.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising gating a clock signal that is provided MAC layer clock signal.