METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONFIGURABLE DATA RATE THRESHOLDS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT ETHERNET

• US 20090097401A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Diab, Wael William
• Application Number:
  US12/028,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20090097401A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/16 in which the time allocation to individual channels within a transmission cycle is variable, e.g. to accommodate varying complexity of signals, to vary number of channels transmitted H04J3/17, H04J3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40136 Nodes adapting their rate to the physical link properties LAN switches H04L49/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/20 Support for services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for programmable data rate thresholds for energy efficient Ethernet are provided. In this regard a data rate for communicating over a network link may be selected from a list of permissible data rates, where the list of permissible data rates may be determined based on traffic associated with the network link. Each of the permissible data rates may be determined based on, for example, past and/or expected traffic on the link, a type of traffic associated with the link, and/or one or more applications associated with the link. The selected data rate may be achieved by controlling a number of physical channels of the link that are utilized for communications over the link, voltage and/or current levels utilized for signaling on the link, a signal constellation utilized for representing data on the link, and/or an inter-frame gap or inter-packet gap utilized on the link.

Claims

1. A method for networking, the method comprising:

selecting, from a list of permissible data rates for operating a network link, a data rate for handling traffic over said network link, wherein each of said permissible data rates is determined based on traffic associated with said network link; and

communicating over said network link at said selected data rate.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said each of said permissible data rates is determined based on past and/or expected traffic on said network link.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said each of said permissible data rates is determined based on a type of traffic associated with said network link.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said each of said permissible data rates is determined based on one or more applications associated with said network link.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising adjusting said selected data rate by controlling a number of physical channels of said network link utilized to transfer information.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising adjusting said selected data rate by controlling voltage and/or current levels utilized for signaling on said network link.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising adjusting said selected data rate by controlling a signal constellation utilized for representing data on said network link.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising adjusting said selected data rate by controlling an inter-frame gap utilized on said network link.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising selecting, from said list of permissible data rates, a lowest data rate that is greater than a demand on said network link.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first portion of said list of permissible data rates is utilized for ingress communication and a second portion of said list of permissible data rates is utilized for egress communication.

11. A system for networking, the system comprising:

one or more circuits that enable selection of, from a list of permissible data rates for operating a network link, a data rate for handling traffic over said network link, wherein each of said permissible data rates is determined based on traffic associated with said network link; and

said one or more circuits enable communication over said network link at said selected data rate.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said each of said permissible data rates is determined based on past and/or expected traffic on said network link.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said each of said permissible data rates is determined based on a type of traffic associated with said network link.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said each of said permissible data rates is determined based on one or more applications associated with said network link.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enable adjustment of said selected data rate by controlling a number of physical channels of said network link utilized to transfer information.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enable adjustment of said selected data rate by controlling voltage and/or current levels utilized for signaling on said network link.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enable adjustment of said selected data rate by controlling a signal constellation utilized for representing data on said network link.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enable adjustment of said selected data rate by controlling an inter-frame gap utilized on said network link.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enable selection of, from said list of permissible data rates, a lowest data rate that is greater than a demand on said network link.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein a first portion of said list of permissible data rates is utilized for ingress communication and a second portion of said list of permissible data rates is utilized for egress communication.

21. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for networking, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

selecting, from a list of permissible data rates for operating a network link, a data rate for handling traffic over said network link, wherein each of said permissible data rates is determined based on traffic associated with said network link; and

communicating over said network link at said selected data rate.

22. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said each of said permissible data rates is determined based on past and/or expected traffic on said network link.

23. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said each of said permissible data rates is determined based on a type of traffic associated with said network link.

24. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said each of said permissible data rates is determined based on one or more applications associated with said network link.

25. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for adjusting said selected data rate by controlling a number of physical channels of said network link utilized to transfer information.

26. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for adjusting said selected data rate by controlling voltage and/or current levels utilized for signaling on said network link.

27. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for adjusting said selected data rate by controlling a signal constellation utilized for representing data on said network link.

28. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for adjusting said selected data rate by controlling an inter-frame gap utilized on said network link.

29. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for selecting, from said list of permissible data rates, a lowest data rate that is greater than a demand on said network link.

30. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein a first portion of said list of permissible data rates is utilized for ingress communication and a second portion of said list of permissible data rates is utilized for egress communication.