Interfacing media access control (MAC) with a low-power physical layer (PHY) control
US8321708B2 · kind B2 · utility
2Cited by
2References
12Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 16, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/3209
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method of interfacing physical layer (PHY) control with media access control (MAC) is disclosed. One method includes signaling to the PHY control to operate in a low-power mode when the MAC is detected to be transmitting idle patterns. The MAC transitioning from transmitting the idle patterns to transmitting data can be detected. When the transition is detected, the PHY control is signaled to transition to a wake up mode. Data from the MAC is buffered while the PHY control is in the wake up mode. The buffered data is provided to the PHY control after the PHY control has completed the wake up mode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.