Method and system for supporting a variable and energy efficient data rate using a duty cycling technique and multiple power states on an Ethernet link
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for data communications in a network between a first network node and a second network node over a network link, the first network node having a first host, a first media access control (MAC) and a first physical layer (PHY), the method comprising:
- cycling a transmit data rate at which said first PHY transmits first host data over said network link between a first non-zero data rate and at least a second non-zero data rate, wherein said first host data are obtained from said first host and processed by said first MAC and then said first PHY prior to said first PHY transmitting said first host data over said network link to said second network node; and
cycling a receive data rate at which said first PHY receives second host data over said network link between said first non-zero data rate and said at least a second non-zero data rate being different than said first non-zero data rate, wherein said second host data are processed by said first PHY after being received by said first PHY and then by said first MAC prior to being provided to said first host;
wherein a duty cycle of said transmit data is determined based on one or both of;
a type of said first host data communicated over said network link and a type of said first host data to be communicated over said network link; and
wherein said transmit data rate and said receive data rate are controlled by varying a number of physical channels of said network link via which data are communicated.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of a method and system for supporting a variable and energy efficient data rate using a duty cycling technique and multiple power states on an Ethernet link are provided. In this regard, a data rate on a network link may be duty cycled based on characteristics of data communicated over it. The network link may operate at a first data rate for a first portion of the time interval and may operate at a second data rate for a second portion of the time interval. The duration of each portion of the time interval and/or the data rate during each portion of the time interval may be adjusted to control the duty cycling. Power consumed in a device connected to the network link may be controlled based on the duty cycling of the link.
41 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for data communications in a network between a first network node and a second network node over a network link, the first network node having a first host, a first media access control (MAC) and a first physical layer (PHY), the method comprising:
-
cycling a transmit data rate at which said first PHY transmits first host data over said network link between a first non-zero data rate and at least a second non-zero data rate, wherein said first host data are obtained from said first host and processed by said first MAC and then said first PHY prior to said first PHY transmitting said first host data over said network link to said second network node; and cycling a receive data rate at which said first PHY receives second host data over said network link between said first non-zero data rate and said at least a second non-zero data rate being different than said first non-zero data rate, wherein said second host data are processed by said first PHY after being received by said first PHY and then by said first MAC prior to being provided to said first host; wherein a duty cycle of said transmit data is determined based on one or both of;
a type of said first host data communicated over said network link and a type of said first host data to be communicated over said network link; andwherein said transmit data rate and said receive data rate are controlled by varying a number of physical channels of said network link via which data are communicated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A system networking, the system comprising:
one or more circuits, one or more processors, or a combination of one or more circuits and one or more processors operable to; cycle a transmit data rate at which a first physical layer (PHY transmits first host data over a network link between a first non-zero data rate and at least a second non-zero data rate, wherein said first host data are obtained from a first host and processed by a first media access control (MAC) and then said first PHY prior to said first PHY transmitting said first host data over a network link; and cycle a receive data rate at which said first PHY receives second host data over said network link between said first non-zero data rate and said at least a second non-zero data rate being different than said first non-zero data rate, wherein said second host data are processed by said first PHY after being received by said first PHY and then by said first MAC prior to being provided to said first host; wherein a duty cycle of said transmit data rate is determined based on one or both of;
a type of said first host data communicated over said network link and a type of said first host data to be communicated over said network link; andwherein said transmit data rate and said receive data rate are controlled by varying a number of physical channels of said network link via which data are communicated. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
-
Current AssigneeAvago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
-
Original AssigneeBroadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
-
InventorsDiab, Wael William, Frazier, Howard
-
Primary Examiner(s)Thompson, Jr., Otis L
-
Application NumberUS12/200,499Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,503 DaysField of SearchNoneUS Class Current370/468CPC Class CodesH04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion co...H04L 47/41 by acting on aggregated flo...Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication ...
