Active idle communication system
First Claim
1. A method for reducing power consumption in an Ethernet communication device, the method comprising:
- establishing a first connection between the Ethernet communication device and an opposing transceiver;
while the Ethernet communication device is not in a reduced power consumption state, monitoring for idle frames from the opposing transceiver;
upon detecting a predetermined number of idle frames,i) entering the Ethernet communication device into the reduced power consumption state, wherein idle frames are not processed to adapt the Ethernet communication device while the Ethernet communication device is in the reduced power consumption state, and wherein the predetermined number of idle frames detected is greater than one, andii) while the Ethernet communication device is in the reduced power consumption state, monitoring for a beginning of a transmit period;
responsive to the beginning of the transmit period,i) exiting the Ethernet communication device from the reduced power consumption state and receiving one or more idle frames or one or more training frames from the opposing transceiver, andii) based on processing at least one of the one or more idle frames or the one or more training frames, maintaining the first connection by selectively adapting at least one of equalizer coefficients of the Ethernet communication device based on existing equalizer coefficients for the first connection, echo canceler coefficients of the Ethernet communication device based on existing echo canceler coefficients for the first connection, or crosstalk canceler coefficients of the Ethernet communication device based on existing crosstalk canceler coefficients for the first connection; and
responsive to an ending of the transmit period, re-entering the Ethernet communication device into the reduced power consumption state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To reduce power consumption and heat generation, an active idle system is proposed that monitors for an idle period and then, after a predetermined time, initiates a silent period. During the silent period data and idle frames are not transmitted. During the silent period, one or more transceiver components may be turned off or forced into some other power saving mode. The predetermined time may be any amount of time and is selected to balance network usage and power savings. Periodically during the silent period, such as at predetermined times, one or more sync or idle frames are transmitted. Received sync or idle frames are processed to maintain receiver settings, synchronization or equalizer adaptation. Restoring active data communication may occur by monitoring the channel during silent periods for a request or only during the predetermined times when sync or idle frames are sent.
81 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for reducing power consumption in an Ethernet communication device, the method comprising:
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establishing a first connection between the Ethernet communication device and an opposing transceiver; while the Ethernet communication device is not in a reduced power consumption state, monitoring for idle frames from the opposing transceiver; upon detecting a predetermined number of idle frames, i) entering the Ethernet communication device into the reduced power consumption state, wherein idle frames are not processed to adapt the Ethernet communication device while the Ethernet communication device is in the reduced power consumption state, and wherein the predetermined number of idle frames detected is greater than one, and ii) while the Ethernet communication device is in the reduced power consumption state, monitoring for a beginning of a transmit period; responsive to the beginning of the transmit period, i) exiting the Ethernet communication device from the reduced power consumption state and receiving one or more idle frames or one or more training frames from the opposing transceiver, and ii) based on processing at least one of the one or more idle frames or the one or more training frames, maintaining the first connection by selectively adapting at least one of equalizer coefficients of the Ethernet communication device based on existing equalizer coefficients for the first connection, echo canceler coefficients of the Ethernet communication device based on existing echo canceler coefficients for the first connection, or crosstalk canceler coefficients of the Ethernet communication device based on existing crosstalk canceler coefficients for the first connection; and responsive to an ending of the transmit period, re-entering the Ethernet communication device into the reduced power consumption state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for maintaining a communication link during periods of non-use of a communication system, the method comprising:
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establishing the communication link between a transmitter and an opposing receiver; detecting a beginning of an idle period in the communication system, wherein during the idle period, the transmitter sends only idle frames to the opposing receiver; responsive to the beginning of the idle period, initiating a counter or timer to start a first time period; during the idle period, monitoring for an end of the first time period; during the idle period and responsive to the end of the first time period, stopping the sending of the idle frames by the transmitter, and initiating the counter or timer to start a second time period; monitoring for an end of the second time period; responsive to the end of the second time period, sending a sync frame or an idle frame from the transmitter to the opposing receiver; and receiving and processing the sync frame or the idle frame at the opposing receiver to maintain the communication link by selectively adapting at least one of (i) equalizer coefficients of the opposing receiver based on existing equalizer coefficients for the communication link, (ii) echo canceler coefficients of the opposing receiver based on existing echo canceler coefficients for the communication link, or (iii) crosstalk canceler coefficients of the opposing receiver based on existing crosstalk canceler coefficients for the communication link. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for saving power in a communication device, the system comprising:
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an input/output port configured to connect to a channel; a receiver; a transmitter configured to transmit data to the receiver over the channel via the input/output port; and a controller configured to interface with the transmitter, wherein the controller is further configured to establish a first connection between the transmitter and an opposing transceiver; detect idle periods during which data is not sent over the channel; in response to one of the idle periods exceeding a predetermined idle period, control the transmitter to initiate a silent period by no longer sending a signal over the channel; during the silent period, reactivate the transmitter periodically to send sync information or idle information; and reactivate the transmitter in response to active data to be transmitted, wherein the receiver is configured to receive and process the sync information or idle information to maintain the first connection by selectively adapting at least one of (i) equalizer coefficients of the receiver based on existing equalizer coefficients for the first connection, (ii) echo canceler coefficients of the receiver based on existing echo canceler coefficients for the first connection, or (iii) crosstalk canceler coefficients of the receiver based on existing crosstalk canceler coefficients for the first connection. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification