Method of controlling power by a power controller controlling a power switch of an unused communication interface

• US 7,281,143 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yoshikazu, Parra, Fidol Joaquin
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao; Chun
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRIBBS, MALCOLM
• Application Number:
  US10/678,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/320, 713/324, 713/340, 713/330
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The wireless LAN access point comprises a CPU, a PCI bus connected to the CPU, a power source section 18 connected to the PCI bus, a wireless LAN interface 16, and a wire LAN interface. Each of the communication interfaces comprises a power switch which can switch ON/OFF an electrification state with the power source section, and a power control device which controls an ON/OFF operation of the power switch based on a control signal from the CPU. The CPU detects unused one of the communication interfaces and supplies a control signal to switch an ON state of the power switch to an OFF state through the PCI bus to the power control device of the unused communication interface. A reduction in size of a power source section to miniaturize a wireless LAN access point, and power/energy saving are achieved.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a bus of a predetermined standard;

a power source connected to said bus;

a plurality of communication interfaces connected to said bus to communicate data with the other communication device, each of said communication interfaces comprising

a power switch for switching an electrical ON and OFF states with said power source, and

a power controller for controlling the ON and OFF states of said power switch based on a predetermined control signal supplied through said bus; and

a processor connected to said bus, said processor comprising

detecting means for detecting unused one of the plurality of communication interfaces, and

controlling means for, when said unused communication interface is detected by said detecting means, supplying a control signal to said power controller of said unused communication interface, thereby switching the ON state of said power switch to the OFF state thereof through said bus.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means supplies a control signal to the power controller of the communication interface other than said unused communication interface, thereby maintaining the ON states of said power switch via said bus.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of communication interfaces further comprises a power supply line to maintain the ON and OFF states between said power source and said power controller while said power switch is under the OFF state.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said power controller switches the ON state of said power switch to the OFF state thereof while the control signal is not received for a predetermined time.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said power switch comprises:

a light emitting device for converting an electric signal into an optical signal to emit the same based on control by said power controller; and

a switching device for converting the optical signal emitted from said light emitting device into an electric signal to receive the same, and for switching the ON and OFF state with the power source in accordance with the electric signal.

6. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein said light emitting device and said switching device are integrally mounted on a photo-coupler.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of communication interfaces further comprises:

a wire LAN interface connected to said bus; and

a wireless LAN interface connected to said bus.

8. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein said detecting means comprises:

a cable recognition device which recognizes a cable connected state of said wire LAN interface; and

means for detecting whether said wire LAN interface can be used or not based on a recognition result from the cable recognition device.

9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said bus is a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus.

10. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said processor is a Central Processing Unit (CPU).

11. A wireless LAN access point comprising:

a bus of a predetermined standard;

a power source connected to said bus;

a plurality of communication interfaces including a wire LAN interface connected to said bus and a wireless LAN interface connected to said bus, said plurality of communication interfaces which are connected to said bus to communicate data with the other communication device, each of said communication interfaces comprising a power switch for switching an electrical ON and OFF states with said power source, and a power controller for controlling the ON and OFF states of said power switch based on a predetermined control signal supplied through said bus; and

a processor connected to said bus, said processor comprising detecting means for detecting unused one of the plurality of communication interfaces, and controlling means for, when said unused communication interface is detected by said detecting means, supplying a control signal to the OFF state thereof through said bus to said power controller of said unused communication interface, thereby switching the ON state of said power switch.

12. The wireless LAN access point according to claim 11, wherein said power switch comprises:

a light emitting device for converting an electric signal into an optical signal to emit the same based on control by said power controller; and

a switching device for converting the optical signal emitted from said light emitting device into an electric signal to receive the same, and for switching the ON and OFF state with the power source in accordance with the electric signal.

13. The wireless LAN access point according to claim 12, wherein said light emitting device and said switching device are integrally mounted on a photo-coupler.

14. A communication device comprising:

a bus;

a power source connected to said bus;

a plurality of communication interfaces connected to said bus, each of said communication interfaces comprising;

a power switch; and

a power controller for controlling ON and OFF states of said power switch based on a control signal supplied through said bus; and

a processor connected to said bus, said processor comprising;

a detector which detects at least one unused one of the plurality of communication interfaces; and

a controller which supplies a control signal through said bus to said power controller of said unused communication interface thereby switching the ON state of said power switch to the OFF state thereof when said unused communication interface is detected by said detector.