Patent US6131167A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6131167A
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US
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Method and apparatus to reduce power consumption on a bus
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1997-12-31
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Granted: 2000-10-10
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Expires: 2017-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for reducing the power consumed by a bus is described. The method includes placing a bus node in a reduced power consumption state and returning the bus node to a fully powered state.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude A. Cruz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3234; G06F1/325; G06F1/3253; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for reducing the power consumed by a bus, said method comprising: placing a bus node in a reduced power consumption state wherein the signaling integrity of a multiport bus interface continues in the reduced power consumption state; returning said bus node from said reduced power consumption state to a fully powered state; and returning a busy response on the bus to a sender of a wake request while the node returns to normal operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for reducing the power consumed by a bus, said method comprising: placing a bus node in a reduced power consumption state wherein the signaling integrity of a multiport bus interface continues in the reduced power consumption state; returning said bus node from said reduced power consumption state to a fully powered state; and returning a busy response on the bus to a sender of a wake request while the node returns to normal operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising determining that said bus node is busy in response to said bus node failing to send a busy response after a predesignated period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the sending of said wake request is initiated by the generation of at least one of the following: a read request, a write request, and a lock request.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 3 wherein returning said bus node from said reduced power consumption state comprises comparing data within said wake request to a first set of parameters, generating a signal in response to the comparison, and sending a request to a node power manager in response to generating said signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 wherein returning said bus node from said reduced power consumption state is accomplished by signaling a logic device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 wherein returning said bus node from said reduced power consumption state is accomplished by asserting an input signal to a portion of a control logic circuit.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for reducing the power consumed by a bus, said method comprising: placing a bus node in a reduced power consumption state wherein the signaling integrity of a multiport bus interface continues in the reduced power consumption state; returning said bus node from said reduced power consumption state to a fully powered state; receiving a wake event as part of a normal signaling on the bus; filtering the wake event; and returning the node to the fully powered state only if the wake event is a predetermined type of wake event.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for reducing the power consumed by a bus, said method comprising: placing a bus node in a reduced power consumption state wherein the signaling integrity of a multiport bus interface continues in the reduced power consumption state; returning said bus node from said reduced power consumption state to a fully powered state; receiving a wake event as part of a normal signaling on the bus; filtering the wake event; and returning the node to the fully powered state only if the wake event is a predetermined type of wake event.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus comprising: a complex logic having a fully powered state and a reduced power state; a link circuit coupled to the complex logic; a physical layer (PHY) coupled to the link logic and providing a bus interface wherein the PHY remains active in the reduced power state acting as a repeater for traffic on the bus; and a wake filter that identifies if a wake event on the bus requires the complex logic to transition into the fully powered state.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus comprising: a complex logic having a fully powered state and a reduced power state; a link circuit coupled to the complex logic; a physical layer (PHY) coupled to the link logic and providing a bus interface wherein the PHY remains active in the reduced power state acting as a repeater for traffic on the bus; and a wake filter that identifies if a wake event on the bus requires the complex logic to transition into the fully powered state.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for placing a bus node in a reduced power-consumption state, said method comprising: reducing power supplied to units within said bus node; reconfiguring a multiport bus interface within said bus node to receive power from a secondary power source; preparing said bus node to receive a subsequent wake request wherein said receiving said wake request is configured to return said bus node to a fully powered state; and updating at least one register to reflect said reduced power consumption state of said bus node and said units.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for placing a bus node in a reduced power-consumption state, said method comprising: reducing power supplied to units within said bus node; reconfiguring a multiport bus interface within said bus node to receive power from a secondary power source; preparing said bus node to receive a subsequent wake request wherein said receiving said wake request is configured to return said bus node to a fully powered state; and updating at least one register to reflect said reduced power consumption state of said bus node and said units.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said reconfiguring includes providing an alternative power source for a bus interface within said node.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for returning a bus node from a reduced power-consumption state, said method comprising: sending a wake request to at least one unit within said bus node; processing said wake request to determine if said bus node should be returned to a fully powered state; reconfiguring a multiport bus interface within said bus node to receive power from a primary power source; returning power to units within said bus node in response to receiving said wake request; and updating at least one register to reflect the power state of said bus node and said units.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for returning a bus node from a reduced power-consumption state, said method comprising: sending a wake request to at least one unit within said bus node; processing said wake request to determine if said bus node should be returned to a fully powered state; reconfiguring a multiport bus interface within said bus node to receive power from a primary power source; returning power to units within said bus node in response to receiving said wake request; and updating at least one register to reflect the power state of said bus node and said units.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising returning a busy response to a sender of said wake request, while the node returns to a normal operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising determining that said bus node is busy in response to said bus node failing to send a busy response after a predesignated period.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the sending of said request is initiated by the generation of at least one of the following: a read request, a write request, and a lock request.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 14 wherein returning power comprises comparing data within said wake request to a first set of parameters, generating a signal in response to the comparison, and sending a unit request in response to said signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 wherein returning power is accomplished by signaling a logic device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16 wherein returning of power is accomplished by asserting an input signal to a portion of a control logic circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-10 | 2004-04-10 | 2004-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-10 | 2008-04-10 | 2008-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-10 | 2012-04-10 | 2012-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |