System and method for activating a deactivated device by standardized messaging in a network
First Claim
1. A network interface for connecting a device to a network, the device coupled to a power supply supplying operating power to the device, the network interface comprising:
- a network interface controller having an input terminal coupled to the network for receiving messages in a generic format from one or more transmitting devices connected to the network and having a control signal output terminal coupled to the device for communicating a device activation signal to the device, the network interface controller including;
a control logic operative for determining whether the received message in a generic format includes message conditions that are authorized message conditions and generating the activation signal to the device based on the determination, wherein;
the message conditions include an authorized message time and datea power source coupled to the network interface for supplying operating power to the network interface independently from the power supply supplying operating power to the device; and
the device having a designated device address, the received message in a generic format designating a target device address, and the network interface controller including a control logic operative for awaiting receipt of a message from a transmitting device, reading a target device address included within a message in response to receipt of the message, determining whether the target device address matches the designated device address, and generating the activation signal to the device based on the determination.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device connected to a network operates in a plurality of states including an execution state and a low-power state. During operation in the low-power state, the device is activated to an execution state in response to standard messages such as Ethernet messages. A receiving device connected to a network is activated from a suspended or low-power state by the receipt of a message from a sending device. The message necessarily includes a unique Ethernet address identifying the destination device in accordance with a standard specification, such as the IEEE 802.3 specification. The receiving device reads the unique Ethernet address of the message, determines a type classification of the message content, and determines whether to become activate or remain in the low-power state on the basis of the Ethernet address and the message type.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A network interface for connecting a device to a network, the device coupled to a power supply supplying operating power to the device, the network interface comprising:
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a network interface controller having an input terminal coupled to the network for receiving messages in a generic format from one or more transmitting devices connected to the network and having a control signal output terminal coupled to the device for communicating a device activation signal to the device, the network interface controller including; a control logic operative for determining whether the received message in a generic format includes message conditions that are authorized message conditions and generating the activation signal to the device based on the determination, wherein; the message conditions include an authorized message time and date a power source coupled to the network interface for supplying operating power to the network interface independently from the power supply supplying operating power to the device; and the device having a designated device address, the received message in a generic format designating a target device address, and the network interface controller including a control logic operative for awaiting receipt of a message from a transmitting device, reading a target device address included within a message in response to receipt of the message, determining whether the target device address matches the designated device address, and generating the activation signal to the device based on the determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A network computer system that is connectable to a network, the network computer system comprising:
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a computer system coupled to a power supply switchably supplying operating power to the computer system under control of an activation switch; and a network interface for connecting the computer system to the network, the network interface having an input terminal coupled to the network for receiving messages in a generic format from one or more transmitting devices connected to the network and having a control signal output terminal coupled to the computer system for communicating a computer system activation signal to the computer system, the network interface including a control logic operative for determining whether the received message in a generic format includes message conditions that are authorized message conditions and generating the activation signal to the computer system based on the determination, the message conditions including an authorized message time and date; a power source coupled to the network interface and supplying operating power to the network interface independently from the power supply supplying operating power to the computer system; and the computer system having a designated device address, the received message in a generic format designating a target device address, and the network interface including a control logic operative for awaiting receipt of a message from a transmitting device, reading a target device address included within a message in response to receipt of the message, determining whether the target device address matches the designated device address, and generating the activation signal to the computer system based on the determination. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of activating a deactivated computer system connected to a network via a network interface, the method comprising:
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previously authorizing message conditions for activating the computer system, the message conditions including an authorized message time and date; assigning a designated device address to the computer system; supplying operating power to the network interface independently from a supply of operating power to the computer system; awaiting receipt of a message from a transmitting device; receiving a message in a generic format from the transmitting device connected to the network, the received message including a designation of a target device address; reading the target device address included within the message in response to receipt of the message; determining whether the designated target device address matches the designated device address; determining whether the received message in a generic format includes message conditions that are previously authorized message conditions; and selectively activating the computer system based on the determination of whether the designated target device address matches the designated device address in combination with the determination of whether the received message in a generic format includes message conditions that are previously authorized message conditions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification