| 摘要 |
The invention provides a method and apparatus for supporting a link-suspend operation between network nodes in a point-to-point data communications link. Individual network links, according to the invention, will have a full power operational mode for supporting full high-bandwidth communication, and a low power "link-suspend" (LS) operational mode for temporary operation when only limited communication is occurring. For example, the LS mode reduces the power required at the LAN physical layer by occasionally transmitting "link-suspend-pulse" (LSPs) instead of continuous full data frames or idle pulses or symbols. Thus, the invention can maintain a digital communications link, while cycling transmitter power on and off, during non-transmission periods between valid data transmissions with a duty cycle that substantially reduces physical layer device (PHY) power using LSPs. An embodiment supports negotiation with a remote link partner to set up LS mode by advertising capabilities between the two network devices. |
