EP0573204A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network connection system
Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices Inc
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Filing: 1993-05-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-05-26
Abstract
Abstract One of the fundamental benefits of the 10BASE-T physical interface for 802-3/Ethernet is that the health of the communications link can be permanently monitored. When in the "link good" condition, the 10BASE-T transceiver is required to output a link status (LNKST) signal to this effect. Media Access Controller (MAC) 30, with an embedded 10BASE-T transceiver (37), uses the LNKST signal to provide power management to the MAC (30). By using the programmable AWAKE bit, the receive section of the 10BASE-T transceiver (37) can remain powered, even if the SLEEP input to the MAC (30) is activated. This allows the transceiver (37) to detect a link beat pulse (60) or receive packet activity. If either receive condition is encountered, the internal transceiver (37) will activate the LNKST output from the MAC (30). The system hardware and/or software can use the LNKST output to take appropriate action. For instance, if the LNKST output is active (low), then the computer is connected to an active network, and it is likely that the operating system will allow the MAC (30) to remain powered. However, if the LNKST becomes inactive (high) then the system can assume that the link is inactive, and the MAC can be powered down to save power. If at a later time the link is re-established, the MAC (30) can be powered back up to take advantage of the communications channel. In this way, the power consumption of the Ethernet connection can be managed by the operating software/hardware.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian S. Crayford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3215; H; H04; H04L; H04L43/00; H04L43/08; H04L43/0805; H04L43/0811; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/10; H04L12/12; H04L12/28; H04L12/44; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A network connection system comprising a network controller having a sleep mode and a transceiver for connecting said network controller to a data processing network, said network controller being configured for allowing a sleep mode for a data processing node connected to said network controller, said transceiver being configured to monitor for transmissions on the data processing network when the data processing node is in the sleep mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A network connection system comprising a network controller having a sleep mode and a transceiver for connecting said network controller to a data processing network, said network controller being configured for allowing a sleep mode for a data processing node connected to said network controller, said transceiver being configured to monitor for transmissions on the data processing network when the data processing node is in the sleep mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The network connection system of Claim 1 in which said transceiver is further configured to initiate awakening of said network controller when a transmission on the data processing network intended for said data processing node is observed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
A network connection system comprising a network controller having a sleep mode and a transceiver for connecting said network controller to a data processing network, said network controller being configured for allowing a sleep mode for a data processing node connected to said network controller, the data processing network being configured to signal its presence to said transceiverwhen the data processing node is in the sleep mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A network connection system comprising a network controller having a sleep mode and a transceiver for connecting said network controller to a data processing network, said network controller being configured for allowing a sleep mode for a data processing node connected to said network controller, the data processing network being configured to signal its presence to said transceiverwhen the data processing node is in the sleep mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The network connection system of Claim 3 in which said transceiver is further configured to signal its presence to said data processing network when the data processing node is in the sleep mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
A data processing network system comprising the network connection system of Claim 3 with a data processing network connected to said network connection system, a data processing node connected in said data processing network through said network connection system, said data processing node including means for evaluating transmissions received by said network connection system when said data processing node is in the sleep mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The data processing network system of Claim 5 in which the transmissions include a node address and said means for evaluating transmissions is configured to determine if the node address of the transmissions identifies said data processing node.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The data processing network system of Claim 6 in which the transmissions further include an instruction field and said means for evaluating transmissions is further configured to determine if the instruction field of a transmission including a node address identifying said data processing node includes an awakening instruction for said data processing node.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for operating a data processing network, which comprises connecting a data processing node to a data processing network through a network controller and a transceiver, allowing the data processing node to assume a sleep mode, and monitoring the data processing networkwith the transceiverfor transmissions when the data processing node is in the sleep mode.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for operating a data processing network, which comprises connecting a data processing node to a data processing network through a network controller and a transceiver, allowing the data processing node to assume a sleep mode, and monitoring the data processing networkwith the transceiverfor transmissions when the data processing node is in the sleep mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of Claim 8 additionally comprising the step of periodically signalling the data processing network with the transceiver to signal presence of the transceiver on the data processing network.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for operating a data processing network, which comprises connecting a data processing node to a data processing network through a network controller and a transceiver, allowing the data processing node to assume a sleep mode, and signalling the transceiver with the data processing network to signal presence of the data processing network when the data processing node is in the sleep mode.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for operating a data processing network, which comprises connecting a data processing node to a data processing network through a network controller and a transceiver, allowing the data processing node to assume a sleep mode, and signalling the transceiver with the data processing network to signal presence of the data processing network when the data processing node is in the sleep mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of Claim 10 additionally comprising the step of periodically signalling the data processing network with the transceiver to signal presence of the transceiver on the data processing network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of Claim 10 additionally comprising the steps of transmitting transmissions on the network to the data processing node through the transceiver and monitoring the transmissions by the data processing node.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of Claim 12 in which the transmissions include an address field and the data processing node monitors the address field to determine if the address field includes an address identifying the data processing node.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of Claim 13 in which the transmissions include an instruction field and the data processing node monitors the instruction field to determine if the instruction field includes an awakening instruction for the data processing node.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of Claim 8 additionally comprising the step of initiating awakening of the network controller when a transmission on the data processing network intended for the data processing node is observed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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