CPC G06F 1/3296 (2013.01) [H04L 12/10 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A system comprising:
a first physical layer device configured to communicate data with a second physical layer device over a data transmission medium using an Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) standard, the first physical layer device being further configured to perform operations comprising:
while in a low power consumption mode, receiving a set of refresh signals and a set of data frames during a set of periods, each period of the set of periods comprising a sequence of quiet-refresh cycles, the receiving the set of refresh signals and the set of data frames comprising:
within an individual quiet-refresh cycle in the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles:
receiving, from the second physical layer device, a refresh signal as defined by the Energy Efficient Ethernet standard; and
receiving, from the second physical layer device, a certain number of data frames from the set of data frames after receiving the refresh signal but prior to receiving a next quiet time, the certain number being determined according to a predetermined pattern for receiving data frames during the sequence of quiet-refresh cycles, the predetermined pattern being determined between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device during a negotiation period between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device, the negotiation period occurring prior to or during establishment of a data link between the first physical layer device and the second physical layer device.
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