Control of Energy Efficiency Above PMD Interface
Various embodiments are provided for control of energy efficient operation of a networked device. In one embodiment, among others, a method includes determining that transmissions to a network device will be reduced for a period of time and transmitting a code or signaling to the network device that indicates a low power state for a subsystem above a physical layer of the network device without a reduction in physical layer activity. In another embodiment, a method includes obtaining a code or signaling defining a low power state and initiating the low power state in response to the transmitted code or signaling. In another embodiment, a method includes obtaining a code or signaling defining a wakeup state allowing a subsystem above a physical layer to enter a low power state without idling the entire physical layer and initiating the wakeup state for the physical layer in response to the transmitted code.
1 . A method for controlling energy efficient operation of a receiving network device, comprising:
determining that transmissions to the receiving network device will be reduced for a period of time; and
transmitting a code to the receiving network device over a network link, the code defining a low power state for a subsystem above a physical layer of the receiving network device without a reduction in physical layer activity.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the network link is an Ethernet link.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the low power state is an Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) power management function implemented by the subsystem.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the low power state is a non-EEE power management function implemented by the subsystem.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the code defines a level of activity for the low power state.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the level of activity is lower than a normal bandwidth.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the code defines a period of time to maintain the low power state.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the period of time to maintain the low power state is a predefined period of time.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the period of time to maintain the low power state is based upon the period of time that transmissions to the receiving network device will be reduced.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that transmissions to a plurality of receiving network devices will be reduced for at least a portion of the period of time; and
transmitting code to the each of the plurality of receiving network devices, the code defining a low power state for a subsystem above the physical layer of the receiving network device without a reduction in physical layer activity, wherein the code includes an identification sequence identifying a corresponding one of the plurality of receiving network devices.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the identification sequence identifies a subgroup of the plurality of receiving network devices.
12 . A method for controlling energy efficient operation of a receiving network device, comprising:
obtaining, from a transmitting network device, a code defining a low power state for a subsystem above a physical layer of the receiving network device without a reduction in physical layer activity; and
initiating the low power state for the subsystem in response to the transmitted code.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the network link is an Ethernet link.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the low power state is a sleep mode with no activity.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the code defines a level of activity for the low power state.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the code defines a low power state for a plurality of subsystems above the physical layer of the receiving network device.
17 . A method for controlling energy efficient operation of a receiving network device, comprising:
obtaining, from a transmitting network device, a code defining a wakeup state for a physical layer of the receiving network device, the wakeup state allowing a subsystem above the physical layer to enter a low power state without idling the entire physical layer; and
initiating the wakeup state for the physical layer in response to the transmitted code.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one sublayer of the physical layer is idled in response to the defined wakeup state.
19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
obtaining a second code defining a second wakeup state for the physical layer of the receiving network device; and
transitioning from the first wakeup state to the second wakeup state in response to the second transmitted code.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the transmitting device sends refresh signaling corresponding to initiated wakeup state.