Method and system for packet based signaling between A Mac and A PHY to manage energy efficient network devices and/or protocols

摘要

In an Ethernet network comprising link partners that are coupled via an Ethernet link, an energy efficient network (EEN) communication control policy may be established above a MAC layer. The EEN control policy may determine a power level mode of operation for the link partners. Power level mode control data may be communicated from hardware, software and/or firmware of upper layer protocols to PHY devices. The control data may specify when, where and/or how long to implement the power level mode. The control data may be communicated via a “magic” packet comprising start and/or end of frame delimiters and bits that indicate the power level mode. The PHY devices may detect, parse and/or interpret the “magic” packet and may enter and/or exit a lower power mode of operation. The PHY devices may respond to by generating a magic packet and sending the packet to upper layers.

主权项

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:
in an Ethernet network comprising link partners that are coupled via an Ethernet link, each of said link partners comprising one or more OSI physical layer (PHY) devices:
in a first of said link partners:
establishing by one or more OSI upper layer protocols that are above a media access control layer, an energy efficient network communication control policy, which determines a power level mode of operation for one or more of said link partners from among a plurality of power level modes of operation;communicating a packet by said one or more OSI upper layer protocols, said packet comprising control data and said control data comprising said determined power level mode of operation instructions, wherein said communicated packet is sent to a first of said one or more OSI physical layer devices within said first of said link partners, and wherein said control data comprises one or more bits indicating said power level mode of operation for said one or more of said link partners;identifying, parsing and reading said packet by said first of said one or more OSI physical layer devices within said first of said link partners, to determine said control data comprising said determined power level mode of operation instructions; andimplementing said power level mode of operation by said first of said one or more OSI physical layer devices within said first of said link partners based on said determined control data within said packet.