US 12,314,110 B1
Energy efficient ethernet (EEE) operation
Ragnar Hlynur Jonsson, Aliso Viejo, CA (US); Seid Alireza Razavi Majomard, Belmont, CA (US); Brian Edem, Saratoga, CA (US); David Shen, Saratoga, CA (US); and George Allan Zimmerman, Manhattan Beach, CA (US)
Assigned to Marvell Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore (SG)
Filed by Marvell Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore (SG)
Filed on May 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/142,491.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/337,235, filed on May 2, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/337,240, filed on May 2, 2022.
Int. Cl. G06F 1/26 (2006.01); G06F 1/3206 (2019.01); G06F 1/3203 (2019.01)
CPC G06F 1/3206 (2013.01) [G06F 1/3203 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A network interface device, comprising:
physical layer (PHY) circuitry comprising a transceiver, the PHY processor being configured to perform PHY functions associated with a communication link; and
a controller configured to:
operate the PHY circuitry in a normal operating mode in which the PHY circuitry continually receives transmission symbols from a link partner via the communication link,
determine that the PHY circuitry is to transition to a low power mode in which the link partner does not transmit via the communication link during a quiet period to conserve power,
in response to determining that the PHY circuitry is to transition to the low power mode, transition receiver circuitry of the PHY circuitry to the low power mode,
measure a first transition time period that begins upon determining that the network interface device is to transition to the low power mode,
during the first transition time period control the PHY circuitry to ignore signals received from the link partner via the communication link, and
after the first transition time period, control the PHY circuitry to operate the receiver circuitry in the low power mode.