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Programmable power management system and method for network computer stations

  • US 5,742,833 A
  • Filed: 11/30/1995
  • Issued: 04/21/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for power management in a network of computer stations each of said stations including a network interface controller, comprising:

  • storing in one of said controllers corresponding to one of said stationsat least one programmed protocol dependent pattern within a frame data; and

    a corresponding predetermined response message;

    said storing includingstoring a response buffer of each said predetermined response message, and wherein each said predetermined response message comprises a corresponding message length and message pointer in pair, each said pairs of which identifies a different said predetermined response messages and corresponds to a different frame data mask;

    monitoring with said one of said controllers for said frame data on said network;

    detecting in said one of said controllers from said monitored frame data whether a match occurs of said stored pattern with a pattern within said monitored frame data;

    determining, in response to said detecting of said match, if said corresponding predetermined response message is stored;

    transmitting said predetermined response message onto said network in response to said determining that said corresponding predetermined response message is stored;

    determining with said controller, in response to determining said predetermined response message is not stored, whether said station is in a hibernation state;

    said at least one programmed protocol dependent pattern and corresponding response message comprise a plurality of pairs comprised of a said pattern and a said corresponding response message, each said response message in said pairs corresponding to a different network protocol;

    placing one of said stations in a low-power state;

    wherein said storing, monitoring, detecting, determining, and transmitting steps are executed by one of said controllers corresponding to said one of said stations while said one of said stations is in said low-power state; and

    transmitting said frame data from a different said one of said controllers to said one of said controllers.

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