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; and

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.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modules are deactivated by eliminating voltage and/or current to the modules.

3 . 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.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication event occurs when a number of packets sent over the communication bus from the device exceeds a predetermined threshold.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the packets are of a same type and consecutive.

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

7 . The method of claim 3 , 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.

8 .- 11 . (canceled)

12 . 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;

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.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , 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 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the power control module is further configured to detect a reactivation event, wherein the deactivated module to be reactivated when the reactivation event is detected.

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 ,

wherein the power control module is to detect a communication event when a number of packets sent by the communication module exceeds a predetermined threshold.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein one or more packets are to be sent in reply to the communication module receiving an inquiry over the communication bus.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the reactivation event comprises receipt by the communication module of data to send over the communication bus or a change in the inquiry received by the communication module.

18 .- 21 . (canceled)

22 . 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 the module in response to the communication event;

reactivate the 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 at one or more deactivated modules.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the power control module is to detect a communication event when a number of packets sent by the communication module exceeds a predetermined threshold.

24 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising polling to determine if a communication control unit is ready to receive packets or has packets to send prior to detecting the communication event.

25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication event relates to at least one of a sequence, a pattern and a timing of data packets sent or received.

26 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising slowing down a data transfer by sending the data throttle packet.

27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein deactivation and reactivation of the one or more modules is performed independently of a host device.

28 . The apparatus claim 12 , wherein the communication module is configured to send the data throttle packet to slow down a data transfer.

29 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein deactivation and reactivation of the one or more modules is performed independently of a host device.

30 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the communication event relates to at least one of a sequence, a pattern and a timing of data packets sent or received.

31 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the other module is deactivated during an interval when a host device polls the communication module, but data is being transferred.

32 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the communication module is configured to send the data throttle packet to slow down a data transfer.

33 . The system of claim 22 , wherein deactivation and reactivation of the one or more modules is performed independently of a host device.

34 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the communication event relates to at least one of a sequence, a pattern and a timing of data packets sent or received.

35 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the other module is deactivated during an interval when a host device polls the communication module, but data is being transferred.