System and method for energy savings on a PHY/MAC interface for energy efficient ethernet
A system and method for energy savings on a PHY/MAC interface for energy efficient Ethernet. Power savings for a PHY due to low-link utilization can also be realized in the higher layer elements that interface with the PHY. In one embodiment, subrating is implemented on a MAC/PHY interface to match a subrating of the PHY with a remote link partner. This subrating is less than the full capacity rate and can be zero.
1. An energy efficient Ethernet method, comprising:
operating a physical layer device in an active power mode;
transitioning said physical layer device to a low power mode; and
subrating an interface between said physical layer device and a media access control device, said subrated interface reducing a power consumed by said interface, wherein said subrating comprises reducing said interface to a zero rate.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transitioning comprises lowering a link rate using a subset physical layer device technique.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transitioning comprises entering into a low power idle mode.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a control signal to said media access control device indicating a need for transitioning of said interface into a low power consumption mode.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using in-band signaling.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using out-of-band signaling.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using register-based communication.
8. An energy efficient Ethernet method, comprising:
operating a physical layer device in an active power mode;
transitioning said physical layer device to a low power mode; and
subrating an interface between said physical layer device and a media access control device, said subrated interface reducing a power consumed by said interface, wherein said subrating comprises turning off said interface.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said transitioning comprises lowering a link rate using a subset physical layer device technique.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said transitioning comprises entering into a low power idle mode.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising transmitting a control signal to said media access control device indicating a need for transitioning of said interface into a low power consumption mode.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using in-band signaling.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using out-of-band signaling.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using register-based communication.
15. An energy efficient Ethernet method, comprising:
operating a physical layer device in an active power mode;
transitioning said physical layer device to a low power mode; and
subrating an interface between said physical layer device and a media access control device, said subrated interface reducing a power consumed by said interface, wherein said subrating comprises turning off one or more channels in said interface.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said transitioning comprises lowering a link rate using a subset physical layer device technique.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said transitioning comprises entering into a low power idle mode.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising transmitting a control signal to said media access control device indicating a need for transitioning of said interface into a low power consumption mode.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using in-band signaling.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using out-of-band signaling.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using register-based communication.
22. An energy efficient Ethernet method, comprising:
operating a physical layer device in an active power mode;
transitioning said physical layer device to a low power mode; and
subrating an interface between said physical layer device and a media access control device, said subrated interface reducing a power consumed by said interface, wherein said subrating comprises turning off lanes in a XAUI interface.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein said transitioning comprises lowering a link rate using a subset physical layer device technique.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein said transitioning comprises entering into a low power idle mode.
25. The method of claim 22 , further comprising transmitting a control signal to said media access control device indicating a need for transitioning of said interface into a low power consumption mode.
26. The method of claim 22 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using in-band signaling.
27. The method of claim 22 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using out-of-band signaling.
28. The method of claim 22 , wherein said control signal is transmitted using register-based communication.