Method and system for asymmetric transition handshake in an energy efficient ethernet network
First Claim
1. A method for communication, the method comprising:
- in an Ethernet network comprising multi-rate link partners coupled via an Ethernet link;
notifying, by a first of said multi-rate link partners, a second of said multi-rate link partners of a change of data rate in both directions on said Ethernet link; and
configuring said first of said multi-rate link partners to implement said change of data rate for communication of data from said first multi-rate link partner to said second of said multi-rate link partners by controlling one or both of pulse amplitude modulation levels and signal constellation, wherein said implemented change occurs independently of delays that occur when, as a result of said notification, said second of said multi-rate link partners implements said change of data rate for communication of data from said second of said multi-rate link partners to said first of said multi-rate link partners;
wherein said notification comprises a bit pre-pended to each of a plurality of Ethernet frames.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multi-rate link partners coupled via an Ethernet link may be configured to implement an asymmetric handshake wherein a change of rate in a first direction may be independent of delay that may occur when implementing a change of rate in a second direction. A rate change may be delayed based on a known time delay for configuring a link partner. A change in rate in the first direction may not be delayed by data transmissions in the second direction. Rate changes may be managed via physical layer control characters, physical layer out of band channel and/or packets generated from a layer above the physical layer. Control characters may be transmitted during inter-packet gaps and/or within a packet stream. Data rates may be transitioned from a full rate, intermediate rate or a rate of zero to a full data rate, intermediate rate or a rate of zero.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for communication, the method comprising:
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in an Ethernet network comprising multi-rate link partners coupled via an Ethernet link; notifying, by a first of said multi-rate link partners, a second of said multi-rate link partners of a change of data rate in both directions on said Ethernet link; and configuring said first of said multi-rate link partners to implement said change of data rate for communication of data from said first multi-rate link partner to said second of said multi-rate link partners by controlling one or both of pulse amplitude modulation levels and signal constellation, wherein said implemented change occurs independently of delays that occur when, as a result of said notification, said second of said multi-rate link partners implements said change of data rate for communication of data from said second of said multi-rate link partners to said first of said multi-rate link partners; wherein said notification comprises a bit pre-pended to each of a plurality of Ethernet frames. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for communication, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:
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in an Ethernet network comprising multi-rate link partners coupled via an Ethernet link; notifying, by a first of said multi-rate link partners, a second of said multi-rate link partners of a change of data rate in both directions on said Ethernet link; and configuring said first of said multi-rate link partners to implement said change of data rate for communication of data from said first multi-rate link partner to said second of said multi-rate link partners by controlling one or both of pulse amplitude modulation levels and signal constellation, wherein said implemented change occurs independently of delays that occur when, as a result of said notification, said second of said multi-rate link partners implements said change of data rate for communication of data from said second of said multi-rate link partners to said first of said multi-rate link partners; wherein said notification comprises a bit pre-pended to each of a plurality of Ethernet frames. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for communication, the system comprising:
one or more circuits in a first multi-rate link partner wherein said first multi-rate link partner is coupled via an Ethernet link in an Ethernet network to a second multi-rate link partner, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to; notify, by said first of said multi-rate link partners, said second of said multi-rate link partners of a change of data rate in both directions on said Ethernet link; and configure said first of said multi-rate link partners to implement said change of data rate for communication of data from said first multi-rate link partner to said second of said multi-rate link partners by controlling one or both of pulse amplitude modulation levels and signal constellation, wherein said implemented change occurs independently of delays that occur when, as a result of said notification, said second of said multi-rate link partners implements said change of data rate for communication of data from said second of said multi-rate link partners to said first of said multi-rate link partners; wherein said notification comprises a bit pre-pended to each of a plurality of Ethernet frames. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
Specification