Wake on LAN power management

Abstract

A single integrated circuit includes logic that supports 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T and 1000BASE-T transceiver functionality. The invention implements power management techniques by placing unused functionality in sleep mode. When the functionality is required later, then that functionality may be awakened again and used as required for the particular situation. A processor is able to interact with the media access controller (MAC), and the MAC then communicates with the physical layer (PHY). The invention is adaptable to various devices that are capable to operating using 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T and 1000BASE-T, even those the PHY of these devices may be somewhat different.

1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a first circuitry, coupled to a communication channel, that is operable to support communication according to a first functionality via a communication channel; and    a second circuitry, coupled to the communication channel, that is operable to support communication according to a second functionality via the communication channel; and wherein:    both the first circuitry and the second circuitry are concurrently operational during auto-negotiation which selects the first circuitry or the second circuitry to establish and operate a communication link via the communication channel;    when the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation, the first circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the first functionality via the communication channel and the second circuitry is put into sleep mode; and    when the second circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation, the second circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the second functionality via the communication channel and the first circuitry is put into sleep mode.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a third circuitry, coupled to the communication channel, that is operable to support communication according to a third functionality via the communication channel; and wherein:    the first circuitry, the second circuitry, and the third circuitry are concurrently operational during auto-negotiation which selects the first circuitry, the second circuitry, or the third circuitry to establish and operate the communication link via the communication channel;    when the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation, the first circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the first functionality via the communication channel and the second circuitry and the third circuitry are put into sleep mode;    when the second circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation, the second circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the second functionality via the communication channel and the first circuitry and the third circuitry are put into sleep mode; and    when the third circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation, the third circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the third functionality via the communication channel and the first circuitry and the second circuitry are put into sleep mode.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first functionality or the second functionality is 10 megabit functionality, 100 megabit functionality, or gigabit functionality.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation;    both the first circuitry and the second circuitry are concurrently operational during at least one additional auto-negotiation which selects the second circuitry to establish and operate the communication link via the communication channel; and    when the second circuitry is selected during the at least one additional auto-negotiation, the second circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the second functionality via the communication channel and the first circuitry is put into sleep mode.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the apparatus includes a high level processor, a media access controller, and a physical layer;    the high level processor is operable to communicate with the physical layer via the media access controller; and    the auto-negotiation is performed at the physical layer.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the apparatus includes a media access controller and a physical layer; and    the media access controller is operable to signal the physical layer to put the first circuitry or the second circuitry into sleep mode.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation;    the apparatus includes a media access controller and a physical layer;    during at least one additional auto-negotiation, the media access controller is operable to signal the physical layer concurrently to operate both the first circuitry and the second circuitry; and    the at least one additional auto-negotiation selects the first circuitry or the second circuitry to establish and operate the communication link via the communication channel.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation;    the first circuitry supports communication according to the first functionality via the communication channel during a first time period while the second circuitry is in sleep mode;    the first circuitry terminates communication via the communication channel after the first time period and then enters sleep mode;    both the first circuitry and the second circuitry are concurrently in sleep mode during a second time period; and    both the first circuitry and the second circuitry are concurrently operational during at least one additional auto-negotiation which selects the first circuitry or the second circuitry to establish and operate the communication link via the communication channel during a third time period.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the apparatus is an integrated circuit that includes the first circuitry an the second circuitry.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the apparatus is a communication device that is implemented within a local area network (LAN).    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a first circuitry, coupled to a communication channel, that is operable to support communication according to a first functionality via a communication channel; and    a second circuitry, coupled to the communication channel, that is operable to support communication according to a second functionality via the communication channel; and wherein:    both the first circuitry and the second circuitry are concurrently operational during auto-negotiation which selects the first circuitry or the second circuitry to establish and operate a communication link via the communication channel.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 when the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation, the first circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the first functionality via the communication channel and the second circuitry is put into sleep mode; and    when the second circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation, the second circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the second functionality via the communication channel and the first circuitry is put into sleep mode.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a third circuitry, coupled to the communication channel, that is operable to support communication according to a third functionality via the communication channel; and wherein:    the first circuitry, the second circuitry, and the third circuitry are concurrently operational during auto-negotiation which selects the first circuitry, the second circuitry, or the third circuitry to establish and operate the communication link via the communication channel;    when the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation, the first circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the first functionality via the communication channel and the second circuitry and the third circuitry are put into sleep mode;    when the second circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation, the second circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the second functionality via the communication channel and the first circuitry and the third circuitry are put into sleep mode; and    when the third circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation, the third circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the third functionality via the communication channel and the first circuitry and the second circuitry are put into sleep mode.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first functionality or the second functionality is 10 megabit functionality, 100 megabit functionality, or gigabit functionality.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation;    both the first circuitry and the second circuitry are concurrently operational during at least one additional auto-negotiation which selects the second circuitry to establish and operate the communication link via the communication channel; and    when the second circuitry is selected during the at least one additional auto-negotiation, the second circuitry subsequently supports communication according to the second functionality via the communication channel and the first circuitry is put into sleep mode.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the apparatus includes a high level processor, a media access controller, and a physical layer;    the high level processor is operable to communicate with the physical layer via the media access controller; and    the auto-negotiation is performed at the physical layer.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the apparatus includes a media access controller and a physical layer; and    the media access controller is operable to signal the physical layer to put the first circuitry or the second circuitry into sleep mode.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation;    the apparatus includes a media access controller and a physical layer;    during at least one additional auto-negotiation, the media access controller is operable to signal the physical layer concurrently to operate both the first circuitry and the second circuitry; and    the at least one additional auto-negotiation selects the first circuitry or the second circuitry to establish and operate the communication link via the communication channel.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation;    the first circuitry supports communication according to the first functionality via the communication channel during a first time period while the second circuitry is in sleep mode;    the first circuitry terminates communication via the communication channel after the first time period and then enters sleep mode;    both the first circuitry and the second circuitry are concurrently in sleep mode during a second time period; and    both the first circuitry and the second circuitry are concurrently operational during at least one additional auto-negotiation which selects the first circuitry or the second circuitry to establish and operate the communication link via the communication channel during a third time period.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the apparatus is an integrated circuit that includes the first circuitry an the second circuitry.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the apparatus is a communication device that is implemented within a local area network (LAN).    
   
   
       22 . A method, comprising: 
 concurrently operating both a first circuitry and a second circuitry during auto-negotiation which selects the first circuitry or the second circuitry to establish and operate a communication link via a communication channel, each of the first circuitry and the second circuitry coupled to the communication channel;    when the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation: 
 subsequently supporting the communication link via the communication channel according to a first functionality associated with the first circuitry; and  
 putting the second circuitry into sleep mode; and  
   when the second circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation: 
 subsequently supporting the communication link via the communication channel according to a second functionality associated with the second circuitry; and  
 putting the first circuitry into sleep mode.  
   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 concurrently operating the first circuitry, the second circuitry, and a third circuitry during auto-negotiation which selects the first circuitry, the second circuitry, or the third circuitry to establish and operate a communication link via a communication channel, each of the first circuitry, the second circuitry, and the third circuitry being coupled to the communication channel;    when the first circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation: 
 subsequently supporting the communication link via the communication channel according to the first functionality associated with the first circuitry; and  
 putting the second circuitry and the third circuitry into sleep mode; and  
   when the second circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation: 
 subsequently supporting the communication link via the communication channel according to the second functionality associated with the second circuitry; and  
 putting the first circuitry and the third circuitry into sleep mode;  
   when the third circuitry is selected during auto-negotiation: 
 subsequently supporting the communication link via the communication channel according to a third functionality associated with the third circuitry; and  
 putting the first circuitry and the second circuitry into sleep mode.  
   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 the first functionality or the second functionality is 10 megabit functionality, 100 megabit functionality, or gigabit functionality.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 supporting the communication link via the communication channel according to the first functionality associated with the first circuitry during a first time period while the second circuitry is in sleep mode;    terminating the communication link via the communication channel after the first time period;    putting both the first circuitry and the second circuitry are in sleep mode during a second time period; and    concurrently operating both the first circuitry and the second circuitry during at least one additional auto-negotiation which selects the first circuitry or the second circuitry to establish and operate the communication link via the communication channel during a third time period.