Power gated communication controller

1. A method comprising:

detecting a communication event over a communication bus, the communication bus coupled to a device;

deactivating one or more modules of the device in response to the communication event;

reactivating the one or more deactivated modules;

sending a data throttle packet over the communication bus in response to an inquiry received over the communication bus during at least a portion of reactivation of one or more deactivated modules; and

wherein the communication event occurs when an interval between first and second packets received by the device over the communication bus is longer than a reactivation latency of the deactivated modules.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first packet and the second packet are received at distinct communication endpoints in the device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the packets are of a same type and consecutive.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each packet is sent in reply to an inquiry received over the communication bus.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a reactivation event, wherein the one or more deactivated modules are reactivated when the reactivation event is detected.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the reactivation event comprises the device receiving data to send over the communication bus or a change in the inquiry received over the communication bus.

7. A method comprising:

detecting a communication event over a communication bus, the communication bus coupled to a device;

deactivating one or more modules of the device in response to the communication event;

detecting a reactivation event, wherein the one or more deactivated modules are reactivated when the reactivation event is detected;

reactivating the one or more deactivated modules;

sending a data throttle packet over the communication bus in response to an inquiry received over the communication bus during at least a portion of reactivation of one or more deactivated modules; and

wherein the communication event occurs when an interval between first and second packets received by the device over the communication bus is longer than a reactivation latency of the deactivated modules, and further wherein the reactivation event comprises the device receiving a third packet between the first and second packets, the device receiving data to send over the communication bus, or an end of a deactivation period.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the device is a universal serial bus device controller.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a communication module configured to send and receive packets over a communication bus; and

a power control module coupled to the communication module, the power control module configured to:

detect a communication event over the communication bus;

deactivate another module in response to the communication event;

detect a reactivation event, wherein the deactivated module is to be reactivated when the reactivation event is detected;

reactivate the deactivated module; and

direct the communication module to send a data throttle packet over the communication bus, in response to an inquiry received over the communication bus, during at least a portion of reactivation of one or more deactivated module reactivates, and,

wherein the power control module is to detect a communication event when an interval between first and second packets received by the communication module is longer than a reactivation latency of the deactivated module.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first and second packets are to be received at distinct communication endpoints in the communication module.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the reactivation event comprises receipt by the communication module of a third packet between the first and second packets, receipt by the communication module of data to send over the communication bus, or an end of a deactivation period.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is a universal serial bus device controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the power control module is to control a power supply to the communication module and another module, wherein to deactivate the other module, the power control module is to turn off a voltage and/or current to the other module.

14. A system comprising:

a display port;

a circuit; and

a communication control unit in communication with the circuit, wherein the communication control unit comprises:

a communication module that sends and receives packets over a communication bus;

a module coupled to the communication module; and

a power control module coupled to the communication module, the power control module configured to:

detect a communication event over the communication bus;

deactivate one or more modules in response to the communication event;

reactivate the one or more deactivated modules; and

direct the communication module to send a data throttle packet over the communication bus, in response to an inquiry received over the communication bus, during at least a portion of reactivation of one or more deactivated modules;

wherein the power control module is to detect a communication event when an interval between first and second packets received by the communication module is longer than a reactivation latency of the deactivated module.