| 摘要 |
<p>A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption of an auto-negotiating ethernet transceiver by enabling a driver for the transceiver to alternate between a typical higher-power energy consumption mode (12) to a lower-power energy consumption mode (26) when a network link is no longer detected by the transceiver. The driver causes the portable computer to send instructions to the ethernet transceiver so that the transceiver continues to check for the network link (16). If the network link (16) is not detected, the driver causes the ethernet transceiver to power down into a lower power consumption mode (26) for a specific period of time (28). After the period of time has elapsed, the driver causes the ethernet transceiver to enter a normal higher power consumption mode (32) during which the ethernet transceiver again checks for the network link (16).</p> |
