Standby mode for use in a device having a multiple channel physical layer

摘要

The present invention provides a way of placing a physical layer device into a standby mode. After a link is established between multiple devices, a determination is made whether the device has data to transmit or whether a standby request was received from a link partner. If a standby request was received or the device has no data to transmit, standby mode is entered. In standby mode, unneeded circuitry is powered down. A transmitter in a channel and a receive path in a separate channel remain powered. While operating in standby mode, the PHY layer continuously transmits a standby code on the one or more channels that are not powered down. Standby mode is discontinued when a transceiver has data to transmit or when energy is detected on the powered down channels. Standby mode is also discontinued when no standby code is received, indicating a disconnect between devices.

主权项

1. A transceiver including a physical layer (PHY), the PHY comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit data; a PHY control coupled to the transmitter, wherein the PHY control is configured to:
initiate a standby mode in response to determining that a period of time during which the transceiver has no data to transmit exceeds a value of a wait timer; andin response to initiating the standby mode:
transmit a standby code on a channel of the PHY to maintain a link between the transceiver and a remote transceiver, andinitiate powering down a circuit in the transceiver.