Method for enabling power-saving mode

Abstract

A method for enabling a power-saving mode for an electronic apparatus is disclosed. The electronic apparatus is electrically connected to a peripheral device via a peripheral interface device. The method includes steps of comparing a first input value with a first reference value, determining a transmission index according to a comparing result of the first input value and the first reference value, and having the peripheral interface device enter a power-saving mode when the transmission index indicates an inactive transmission state.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for enabling a power-saving mode for an electronic apparatus, said electronic apparatus being electrically connected to a peripheral device via a peripheral interface device, said method comprising steps of: 
 comparing a first input value with a first reference value;    determining a transmission index according to a comparing result of said first input value and said first reference value; and    having said peripheral interface device enter a power-saving mode when said transmission index indicates an inactive transmission state.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said first input value is a counting value generated in response to a system clock.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said first reference value is a constant value.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said transmission index includes a plurality of transmission-state bits.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein said plurality of transmission-state bits correspond to an asynchronous request transmit mode, an asynchronous response transmit mode, an asynchronous request receive mode, an asynchronous response receive mode, isochronous transmit modes and isochronous receive modes.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein said inactive transmission state is determined when all said transmission-state bits are in disable states.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising a step of resetting said first input value when said inactive transmission state is determined and said peripheral interface device enters said power-saving mode.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said transmission index indicating said inactive transmission state is generated when said comparing result indicates that said first input value substantially equals to said first reference value.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said transmission index indicating an active transmission state is generated when said first input value is different from said first reference value.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein said first input value is updated to repeat the comparing step when said transmission index indicates said active transmission state.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein said active transmission state is determined when at least one of transmission-state bits included in said transmission index are in an enable state.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said power-saving mode includes at least two power-saving stages.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising steps of: 
 detecting a status of a second input value when said first input value is substantially equal to said first reference value; and  
 prohibiting said peripheral interface device from entering said power-saving mode when said second input value is in a specified status.  
 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said second input value is a flag and said specified status is one of a true and a false status.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising steps of: 
 comparing a third input value with a third reference value when said first input value is different from said first reference value; and  
 determining a port disable mode and having said peripheral interface device enter said power-saving mode in response to a comparing result indicating that said third input value is substantially equal to said third reference value.  
 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein said third input value is a counting value generated in response to a system clock, and said third reference value is a constant value.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said third input value is zeroed when said third input value is substantially equal to said third reference value, and accumulatively updated when said third input value is different from said third reference value.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein said port disable mode is determined according to a bias bit and a connection bit.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein said port disable mode is determined when at least one of said bias bit and said connection bit are under a disable state.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein a port enable mode is determined when said bias bit and said connection bit are both under an enable state.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein said peripheral interface device includes a plurality of ports, and said power-saving mode is entered when all of said ports are under said port disable mode.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising steps of: 
 detecting a status of a fourth input value when said third input value is substantially equal to said third reference value; and  
 prohibiting said peripheral interface device from entering said power-saving mode when said fourth input value is in a specified status.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22  wherein said fourth input value is a flag and said specified status is one of a true and a false status.  
     
     
         24 . A method for enabling a power-saving mode for an electronic apparatus, said electronic apparatus being electrically connected to a peripheral device via a peripheral interface device with at least one port, said method comprising steps of: 
 comparing a first input value with a first reference value;    determining a port situation index according to a comparing result of said first input value and said first reference value; and    having said peripheral interface device enter a power-saving mode when said port situation index indicates an inactive transmission state.    
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24  wherein said port situation index is determined according to a bias bit and a connection bit.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said port situation index indicates a port disable mode when at least one of said bias bit and said connection bit are under a disable state.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein said power-saving mode is entered when all of said ports of said peripheral interface device are under said port disable mode.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said port situation index indicates a port enable mode when said bias bit and said connection bit are both under an enable state.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 24  further comprising steps of: 
 detecting a status of a second input value when said first input value is substantially equal to said first reference value; and  
 prohibiting said peripheral interface device from entering said power-saving mode when said second input value is in a specified status.  
 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29  wherein said second input value is a flag and said specified status is one of a true and a false status.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 24  further comprising steps of: 
 comparing a third input value with a third reference value; and  
 determining a transmission inactive mode and having said peripheral interface device enter said power-saving mode in response to a comparing result indicating that said third input value and said third reference value.  
 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31  wherein said first and third input values are counting values generated in response to a system clock, and said first and third reference values are constant values.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31  wherein said transmission inactive mode is determined when all transmission-state bits are in a disable state.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 31  further comprising steps of: 
 detecting a status of a fourth input value when said third input value is substantially equal to said third reference value; and  
 prohibiting said peripheral interface device from entering said power-saving mode when said fourth input value is in a specified status.  
 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34  wherein said fourth input value is a flag and said specified status is one of a true and a false status.