Method and device for reducing the electrical consumption of an ethernet interface

摘要

The present invention relates to a method for reducing the electricity consumption of an Ethernet interface involving switching to a low power mode when no activity is detected on the physical layer thereof for a first predetermined duration (T_L1_INACTIVE). The method is characterized in that the interface also switches to a low power mode when no activity is detected on the MAC layer thereof for a second predetermined duration (T_L2L).

主权项

1. A method of reducing electrical consumption of an Ethernet interface (ETHA) switching from a so-called active mode (ACTIVE) in which the Ethernet interface is activated into a low-consumption mode when inactivity is detected on a physical layer thereof during a first predetermined period (T_L1_INACTIVE), wherein the Ethernet interface also switches into a low-consumption mode when inactivity is detected on a MAC layer thereof during a second predetermined period (T_L2L), and the Ethernet interface also switches from active mode (ACTIVE) to a transient mode (HIBERNATE) in which the Ethernet interface ceases all sending of signal frames either when inactivity on the MAC layer thereof is detected during the second predetermined period (T_L2L) beginning as from the last detection of activity on the MAC layer thereof or following an interface deactivation instruction emanating from a layer with a level higher than that of the MAC layer thereof.