Power management circuit for selectively applying power to network monitoring circuitry which monitors the receipt of network wake-up messages
First Claim
1. In a peripheral device for connecting with a computing device, a power management circuit for selectively applying power to network monitoring circuitry on said peripheral device, said circuit comprising:
- a) a power switch control circuit configured so as to selectively determine when to apply power to said network monitoring circuitry, wherein said network monitoring circuitry is configured to monitor the receipt of network messages directing said computing device to wake-up from a low or no power state; and
b) a power switch circuit configured to receive at least one of an auxiliary input power and a main input power and, when directed by said power switch control circuit, conducting said at least one of said auxiliary input power and said main input power as a selectively switched power to said network monitoring circuitry, said power switch circuit comprising;
(i) an auxiliary input power switch comprising a first switching element and a second switching element that are connected to selectively output the auxiliary input power to said network monitoring circuitry when an auxiliary input power control is actuated by the power switch control circuit; and
(ii) a main input power switch comprising a first switching element and a second switching element that are connected to selectively output the main input power to said network monitoring circuitry when a main input power control is actuated by the power switch control circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power management circuit for use in a peripheral module such as a network interface card is presented. The circuit facilitates low power network monitoring for ‘Wake On LAN’ or ‘Plug In and Go’ applications as well as for network-initiated configuration and operation of a peripheral or network interface card'"'"'s host computer. The circuit detects initial application of operational power and initiates assertion of sufficient power for evaluating the earlier programmed configuration parameters. Upon completion of the evaluation of the configuration parameters, the circuit sustains standby power to the portion of the network interface card that is monitoring the network traffic for a wake-up command when the configuration parameters so dictate.
64 Citations
14 Claims
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1. In a peripheral device for connecting with a computing device, a power management circuit for selectively applying power to network monitoring circuitry on said peripheral device, said circuit comprising:
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a) a power switch control circuit configured so as to selectively determine when to apply power to said network monitoring circuitry, wherein said network monitoring circuitry is configured to monitor the receipt of network messages directing said computing device to wake-up from a low or no power state; and
b) a power switch circuit configured to receive at least one of an auxiliary input power and a main input power and, when directed by said power switch control circuit, conducting said at least one of said auxiliary input power and said main input power as a selectively switched power to said network monitoring circuitry, said power switch circuit comprising;
(i) an auxiliary input power switch comprising a first switching element and a second switching element that are connected to selectively output the auxiliary input power to said network monitoring circuitry when an auxiliary input power control is actuated by the power switch control circuit; and
(ii) a main input power switch comprising a first switching element and a second switching element that are connected to selectively output the main input power to said network monitoring circuitry when a main input power control is actuated by the power switch control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
a) a non-volatile memory for storing power configuration and wake-up on network preferences for use in selectively determining when to apply said selectively switched power to said network monitoring circuitry.
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3. The power management circuit, as recited in claim 2, wherein said power switch control circuit comprises:
a) wake-on network notification evaluation logic for evaluating said power configuration preferences to determine when to direct said power switch circuit to conduct said selectively switched power to said network monitoring circuitry.
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4. The power management circuit, as recited in claim 3, wherein said power switch control circuit comprises:
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a) a supervisor circuit for monitoring said auxiliary input power and upon detection of said auxiliary input power generating an output of a fixed evaluation duration for indirectly directing said power switch circuit to conduct said auxiliary input power as said selectively switched power to said network monitoring circuitry thereby applying said selectively switched power to said wake-on network notification evaluation logic and said non-volatile memory; and
b) a means for combining said output of said fixed duration from said supervisor circuit with an output from said wake-on network notification evaluation logic thereby controlling said power switch circuit to conduct said at least one of said auxiliary input power and said main input power to said network monitoring circuitry when said supervisor circuit asserts said output for a fixed evaluation duration and when said wake-on network notification evaluation logic evaluates said power configuration preferences to direct said power switch circuit to conduct said selectively switched power to said network monitoring circuitry.
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5. The power management circuit, as recited in claim 1, wherein said switching elements are Field Effect Transistors (FETs).
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6. A peripheral module for connecting a portable computer to a network, said peripheral module comprising:
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a) network monitoring circuitry operably coupled to said network so as to be capable of receiving a wake-up command, said network monitoring circuitry further comprising a switched power interface through which said network monitoring circuitry receives operational power; and
b) a power management circuit for selectively applying said operational power to said network monitoring circuitry as determined through an evaluation of preferences as specified by said portable computer, the power management circuit comprising;
a power switch control circuit; and
a power switch circuit configured to receive at least one of an auxiliary power and a main power and, when directed by said power switch control circuit, conducting one of said auxiliary power and said main power as the operational power to said network monitoring circuitry, wherein said power switch circuit comprises;
an auxiliary power switch comprising a first transistor and a second transistor that are connected in series to selectively output the auxiliary power as operational power to the network monitoring circuitry when an auxiliary power control is actuated by the power switch control circuit; and
a main power switch comprising a first transistor and a second transistor that are connected in series to selectively output the main power as operational power to the network monitoring circuitry when a main power control is actuated by the power switch control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
a) a non-volatile memory for storing power configuration and wake-up on network preferences for use in selectively determining when to apply said auxiliary power and said main input power as the operational down to said network monitoring circuitry.
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8. The peripheral module, as recited in claim 7, wherein said power switch control circuit further comprises:
a) wake-on network notification evaluation logic for evaluating said power configuration preferences to determine when to direct said power switch circuit to conduct said auxiliary power and said main input power as the operational power to said network monitoring circuitry.
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9. The peripheral module, as recited in claim 8, wherein said power switch control circuit further comprises:
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a) a supervisor circuit for monitoring said auxiliary input power and upon detection of said auxiliary input power generating an output of a fixed evaluation duration for indirectly directing said power switch circuit to conduct said auxiliary input power as said operational power to said network monitoring circuitry thereby applying said operational power to said wake-on network notification evaluation logic and said non-volatile memory; and
b) a means for combining said output of said fixed duration from said supervisor circuit with an output from said wake-on network notification evaluation logic thereby controlling said power switch circuit to conduct said at least one of said auxiliary input power and said main input power as operational power to said network monitoring circuitry when said supervisor circuit asserts said output for a fixed evaluation duration and when said wake-on network notification evaluation logic evaluates said power configuration preferences to direct said power switch circuit to conduct said operational power to said network monitoring circuitry.
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10. The peripheral module, as recited in claim 6, wherein said transistors arc Field Effect Transistors (FETs).
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11. A network monitoring circuit comprising:
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a) a power management circuit for evaluating computer wake-up configuration parameters and in response, for selectively applying switched power;
b) a network monitoring portion powered by said switched power and operably coupled to a network for monitoring and recognizing a wake-up command sent from said network; and
c) wherein the power management circuit comprises;
a power switch control circuit for selectively determining when to apply power to said network monitoring portion; and
a power switch circuit for receiving at least one of an auxiliary input power and a main input power and, when directed by said power switch control circuit, conducting said at least one of said auxiliary input power and said main input power as a selectively switched power to said network monitoring circuitry, said power switch circuit, the power switch circuit including;
an auxiliary input power switch having an input for receiving said auxiliary input power, an output coupled to said selectively switched power, and an control input electrically coupled to said power switch control circuit for activating said auxiliary input power switch, comprising a first transistor having a first input, a first output, and a control input, said first input electrically coupled to said auxiliary input power and said control input electrically coupled to said power switch control circuit and a second transistor having a first input, a first output, and a control input, said first input electrically coupled to said first output of said first transistor and said control input electrically coupled to said control input of said first transistor, a first output electrically coupled to said selectively switched power; and
a main input power switch having an input for receiving said main input power, an output coupled to said selectively switched power, and an control input electrically coupled to said power switch control circuit for activating said main input power switch, comprising a first transistor having a first input, a first output, and a control input, said first input electrically coupled to said main input power and said control input electrically coupled to said power switch control circuit and a second transistor having a first input, a first output, and a control input, said first input electrically coupled to said first output of said first transistor and said control input electrically coupled to said control input of said first transistor, a first output electrically coupled to said selectively switched power. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
a) a non-volatile memory for storing power configuration and wake-up on network preferences for use in selectively determining when to apply said selectively switched power to said network monitoring portion.
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13. The network monitoring circuit, as recited in claim 12, wherein said power switch control circuit comprises:
a) wake-on network notification evaluation logic for evaluating said power configuration preferences to determine when to direct said power switch circuit to conduct said selectively switched power to said network monitoring portion.
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14. The network monitoring circuit, as recited in claim 13, wherein said power switch control circuit comprises:
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a) a supervisor circuit for monitoring said auxiliary input power and upon detection of said auxiliary input power generating an output of a fixed evaluation duration for indirectly directing said power switch circuit to conduct said auxiliary input power as said selectively switched power to said network monitoring portion thereby applying said selectively switched power to said wake-on network notification evaluation logic and said non-volatile memory; and
b) a means for combining said output of said fixed duration from said supervisor circuit with an output from said wake-on network notification evaluation logic thereby controlling said power switch circuit to conduct said at least one of said auxiliary input power and said main input power to said network monitoring portion when said supervisor circuit asserts said output for a fixed evaluation duration and when said wake-on network notification evaluation logic evaluates said power configuration preferences to direct said power switch circuit to conduct said selectively switched power to said network monitoring portion.
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Specification