摘要 |
A communications apparatus uses at least one logical communications link that comprises a plurality of lanes within a computerized hardware device. A data transfer monitor is connected to the logical communications link and measures the real-time data transfer bandwidth of the logical communications link. In addition, a link management unit or link width control unit (comparator) is connected to the lanes and to the data transfer monitor and continually compares the real-time data transfer bandwidth to a predetermined data transfer bandwidth standard. If the real-time data transfer bandwidth is below the predetermined data transfer bandwidth standard, the link management unit is adapted to perform up-configuring of the logical communications link by activating additional lanes up to a maximum number of lanes making up the logical communications link. Conversely, if the real-time data transfer bandwidth is above the predetermined data transfer bandwidth standard, the link management unit is adapted to perform down-configuring the logical communications link by deactivating lanes within the logical communications link. The lanes consume less power when the lanes are deactivated relative to when the lanes are activated, thus the down-configuring reduces power consumption.
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