Energy efficient ethernet control
First Claim
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1. A physical layer device comprising:
- a pseudo-random value generator to produce a pseudo-random value within a predefined range;
a register to receive the pseudo-random value from the pseudo-random value generator and store the pseudo-random value;
a state machine to obtain the pseudo-random value from the register and provide the pseudo-random value to a timer within the physical layer device; and
the timer to control a duration of an Energy Efficient Ethernet time period based on the pseudo-random value,wherein the control of the duration of the Energy Efficient Ethernet time period based on the pseudo-random value enables a plurality of physical layer devices in a switch to commence and discontinue the Energy Efficient Ethernet time period in a substantially non-synchronous manner.
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Abstract
A physical layer device includes a pseudo-random number generator, a register, a state machine, and a timer. The pseudo-random value generator is configured to produce a pseudo-random value within a predefined range. The register is configured to receive the pseudo-random value from the pseudo-random value generator and store the pseudo-random value. The state machine is configured to obtain the pseudo-random value from the register and provide the pseudo-random value to a timer within the physical layer device. The timer is configured to control a duration of an Energy Efficient Ethernet time period based on the pseudo-random value.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A physical layer device comprising:
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a pseudo-random value generator to produce a pseudo-random value within a predefined range; a register to receive the pseudo-random value from the pseudo-random value generator and store the pseudo-random value; a state machine to obtain the pseudo-random value from the register and provide the pseudo-random value to a timer within the physical layer device; and the timer to control a duration of an Energy Efficient Ethernet time period based on the pseudo-random value, wherein the control of the duration of the Energy Efficient Ethernet time period based on the pseudo-random value enables a plurality of physical layer devices in a switch to commence and discontinue the Energy Efficient Ethernet time period in a substantially non-synchronous manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A switch comprising:
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a power supply; and a plurality of physical layer devices, each physical layer device comprising; a pseudo-random value generator to produce a pseudo-random value within a predefined range; a register to receive the pseudo-random value from the pseudo-random value generator and store the pseudo-random value; a state machine to obtain the pseudo-random value from the register and provide the pseudo-random value to a timer within the physical layer device; and the timer to control a duration of an Energy Efficient Ethernet time period based on the pseudo-random value, wherein the control of the duration of the Energy Efficient Ethernet time period based on the pseudo-random value enables the plurality of physical layer devices to commence and discontinue the Energy Efficient Ethernet time period in a substantially non-synchronous manner. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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initializing a physical layer device; generating a number within a number range; storing the number; and providing the number to a timer, wherein the timer controls a duration of an Energy Efficient Ethernet period time based on the number, and wherein the control of the duration of the Energy Efficient Ethernet time period based on the number enables a plurality of physical layer devices to commence and discontinue the Energy Efficient Ethernet time period in a substantially non-synchronous manner. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification