Abstract: A method for maintaining the states of a receiver during the silent line state of a network device operating in a low power link suspend mode is presented. Accordingly, a method of freezing the states of the equalizer and keeping the receiver clock locked to a frequency that is approximately equal to that of the input data while providing for rapid adjustment to the phase and thus recovery of the input data is presented. During Silent Line State (SLS), the receiver states are frozen using methods that avoid parasitic decay. Also, the receive clock phase lock loop is locked onto the local transmit clock since the local transmit clock has a frequency approximating the incoming data frequency. During the SLS, the transmitter of the remote network device may have been turned off to conserve power therefore the receiver has no way of immediately knowing the phase of an incoming data.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for initializing a link suspend device for optimum receive recovery. A method for negotiating link parameters to facilitate rapid recovery of the input data from a silent line state is described. The invention can be applied to network devices in point-to-point data communications links capable of operating in a low power link suspend mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling data during link suspend pulse and the silent line state of a network device operating in a low power link suspend mode is presented. Accordingly, a new generation of network devices capable of operating in both the full power operational mode of prior art network devices, and a low power “link-suspend” operational mode are presented. The low power “link-suspend” (LS) mode reduces the power consumption of a LAN communications link at the physical layer by eliminating the need to continuously transmit standard idles to maintain link between two linked partners. In the LS mode, a low duty cycle “link-suspend-packet” (LSP) is transmitted between periods of silent line state (SLS). During the SLS, which is a non-data transmission period, the transmitter may be turned off to conserve power therefore preventing the receiver from immediately knowing the phase of an incoming data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transparent implementation of link-suspend capabilities in network devices is presented, which is capable of operating in full or substantially full power operational mode, as well as in a low power “link-suspend” operational mode. The low power “link-suspend” (LS) mode reduces the power consumption of a LAN communications link at the physical layer by eliminating the need to transmit continuous standard idles to maintain link between two linked partners. In the LS mode, a low duty cycle “link-suspend-packet” (LSP) is transmitted between periods of silent line state (SLS). During the SLS, which is a non-data transmission period, the transmitter may be turned off to conserve power. The transmitter power is turned back on when it is time to transmit LSPs or data.

Abstract: A link-suspend operation between network nodes in a point-to-point data communications link is presented. Individual network links will have a full power operational mode for supporting full high-bandwidth communication, and a low power “link-suspend” (LS) operational mode for temporary operation when only limited communication is occurring. The communications link is maintained, while cycling transmitter power on and off during idle periods with a duty cycle that substantially reduces physical layer device (PHY) power, using LSPs. LS mode may be negotiated by advertising capabilities between two network devices. Thus, PHYs at either end of a link can notify the other of the capability to support a LS mode of operation and can negotiate parameters for communications using the LS mode. Further, transmitting and receiving continuous idles, valid data frames, and Wake-on LAN (WOL) packets is supported.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling data during link suspend pulse and the silent line state of a network device operating in a low power link suspend mode is presented. Accordingly, a new generation of network devices capable of operating in both the full power operational mode of prior art network devices, and a low power “link-suspend” operational mode are presented. The low power “link-suspend” (LS) mode reduces the power consumption of a LAN communications link at the physical layer by eliminating the need to continuously transmit standard idles to maintain link between two linked partners. In the LS mode, a low duty cycle “link-suspend-packet” (LSP) is transmitted between periods of silent line state (SLS). During the SLS, which is a non-data transmission period, the transmitter may be turned off to conserve power therefore preventing the receiver from immediately knowing the phase of an incoming data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transparent implementation of link-suspend capabilities in network devices is presented. Accordingly, a new generation of network devices capable of operating in both the full power operational mode of prior art network devices, and a low power “link-suspend” operational mode are presented. The low power “link-suspend” (LS) mode reduces the power consumption of a LAN communications link at the physical layer by eliminating the need to transmit continuous standard idles to maintain link between two linked partners. In the LS mode, a low duty cycle “link-suspend-packet” (LSP) is transmitted between periods of silent line state (SLS). During the SLS, which is a non-data transmission period, the transmitter may be turned off to conserve power. The transmitter power is turned back on when it is time to transmit LSPs or data.

Abstract: A method for maintaining the states of a receiver during the silent line state of a network device operating in a low power link suspend mode is presented. Accordingly, a method of freezing the states of the equalizer and keeping the receiver clock locked to a frequency that is approximately equal to that of the input data while providing for rapid adjustment to the phase and thus recovery of the input data is presented. During Silent Line State (SLS), the receiver states are frozen using methods that avoid parasitic decay. Also, the receive clock phase lock loop is locked onto the local transmit clock since the local transmit clock has a frequency approximating the incoming data frequency. During the SLS, the transmitter of the remote network device may have been turned off to conserve power therefore the receiver has no way of immediately knowing the phase of an incoming data.

Abstract: A method for initializing a link suspend (LS) device for optimum receive recovery is presented. Accordingly, a method for negotiating link parameters needed to facilitate rapid recovery of the input data from a silent line state is presented. During Silent Line State (SLS), the receiver has no knowledge of the state of the link partner PHY because the transmitter of the remote network device may have been turned off to conserve power therefore the receiver would have no way of immediately knowing the scrambler seed of an incoming data. Determining the scrambler seed may be computation intensive and may result in losing some of the incoming data if not immediately determined. Thus, in order to prevent loss of data, LS devices pass scrambler seed and other link parameters during Next Page Auto-Negotiation so that the receiver's descrambler may immediately start recovering the incoming data without need to first determine the scrambler seed.

Abstract: A pair of electrical display elements, LEDs, is driven by a three-state buffer driver circuit. The LEDs have associated current-limiting resistors. The driver circuit applies different selected voltage levels at different selected predetermined frequencies to the LEDs. By having two predetermined frequencies to a pair of LEDs, there can be exhibited at least five different display conditions from the pair of LEDs.