Method and apparatus for powering-on a computer-based system via a network interface

Abstract

A network interface card in a networked client computer includes a network interface circuit that decodes and then compares incoming network packet addresses to known address bit patterns, the decoding and comparing circuitry being powered at all times. Receipt and recognition of certain addresses means the client computer must be powered-on, even if manually switched OFF. When such a server-transmitted address is recognized, a power-on signal is issued to a power control unit that causes full operating power to be coupled to the client computer. In this fashion, a server can broadcast power-on signals to a plurality of networked client computers or workstations.

1. In a peer-to-peer environment that includes a plurality of members coupled to said environment including a member that broadcasts information to at least one member whose operating voltage is switched off, a method for powering-on the switched-off member, the method including the following steps:
 providing each said member with an interface coupled to receive said information, at least a portion of said receiving operating voltage at all times anda network interface of the switched- off member receiving said broadcasted information, wherein at least a portion of said network interface is receiving power even though a remaining portion of the switched - off member is not, wherein the network interface  includinges a decoder, a comparator, and a power control unit;  
 said decoder decoding a first type of information included in said broadcasted information;  
 said comparator comparing decoded  said decoded first type of information with at least one stored information pattern representing a power-on condition, said comparator outputting a power-on signal to said power control unit when said stored information pattern matches the decoded said first type of information;  
 said power control unit coupled to  provide ing said switched- off member's  operating voltage to said switched-off member upon receipt of said power-on signal.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said network interface stores at least a first information pattern representing a subset of members of said environment, and a second information pattern representing a subset of said subset of members of said environment;
 wherein said comparator outputs said power-on signal when the decoded said first type of information matches either of said first information pattern or said second information pattern.  
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each said member is Energy Star compliai nt, and wherein collectively said decoder and said comparator consume less than 30 watts of operating power. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said environment further includes a second member,  receiving said information broadcast by the broadcasting member, whose  wherein the second member's operating voltage is switched-off, said method powering-on each said member  further comprising:
 said second member including a second interface coupled to receive said information, at least a portion of said second network interface receiving operating voltage at all times, said interfacea second network interface of the second member receiving said broadcasted information, wherein at least a portion of said second network interface is receiving power even though a remaining portion of the second member is not, wherein the second network interface includinges a second decoder, a second comparator, and a second power control unit;  
 said second decoder decoding said first type of information included in said broadcasted information;  
 said second comparator comparing decoded  said first type of information with at least one stored information pattern representing a power-on condition, said second comparator outputting a power-on signal to said second power control unit when said stored information pattern matches the decoded said first type of information;  
 said second power control unit coupled to  provide ing said second member's operating voltage to said second member upon receipt of said power-on signal;  
 wherein each member is powered-on simultaneously when said decoded first type information matches said stored information pattern .  
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said broadcasted information includes packets of binary data. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first type of information includes binary address information. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said comparator includes  implements a hashing algorithm executed within said interface . 
     
     
       8. In a peer-to-peer environment that includes a plurality of members coupled to said environment including one of said members that broadcasts information to at least a first member and a second member, each of said first and second members including an interface, at least of a portion of which is operative at all times, each said interface able to store at least one type of  information pattern, and having a decoder that decodes at least one type of information,  and a comparator, and having a power control unit controllably able to provide operating voltage to the associated said member, each of said first and second members having their operating voltage switched off, a method for powering-on at least a chosen one of said first and said second members, the method including the following steps:
 storing in each said interface at least one of a first type of  information pattern and a second type of  information pattern;  
 causing  each said decoder to  decodeing broadcast saidthe information from the broadcasting member;  
 causing  each said decoder tocomparator compareing decoded  said decoded broadcast information against informationthe first and second information patterns stored in said decoder's  associated said  interface; and  
 causing said  each said power control unit to  powering-on each said member whose decoder comparison showscomparator indicates a match between information stored in said decoder's associated said interface said first type of information, wherein said first type of information when decoded and successfully compared commands powering-on .  
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein said first type of  information pattern represents a subset of members of said environment, and said second type of  information pattern represents a subset of said subset of members of said environment;
 wherein each said comparator outputs said  a power-on signal when the decoded first type of  broadcast information matches either of  said first information pattern or said second information pattern.  
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein each said member is Energy Star compliai nt, and wherein collectively each said decoder and associated said comparator consumes less than 30 watts of operating power. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein said broadcast information includes packets of binary data. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein said first type  broadcast information includes binary address information. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein each said comparator includes  implements a hashing algorithm executed within an associated said interface . 
     
     
       14. In a peer-to-peer environment that includes a plurality of members coupled to said environment includes a member that is configured to broadcasts  information to at least one of said members whose operating voltage is switched off, a system for powering-on a switched off said member, the system  comprising:
 an interface of said switched- off member  coupled to receive said broadcasted information, said interface including a decoder, a comparator, and a power control unit, wherein said decoder, comparator and power control unit are each configured to receiving e operating voltage at all times  while a remaining portion of the switched- off member is not;    
 wherein said decoder is configured to decodinge at least a first type of information included in said received information;  
 wherein said comparator is configured to comparinge said decoded said  first type of information with at least one stored information pattern representing a power-on condition, wherein said comparator is configured to outputting  a power-on signal to said power control unit when a said stored information pattern matches the decoded  said decoded first type of information matches one of the at least one stored information pattern;  and    
   wherein  said power control unit coupled tois configured to provide operating voltage to said remaining portion of said switched-off member upon receipt of said power-on signal.  
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein said interface stores at least a first information pattern representing a subset of members of said environment, and a second information pattern representing a subset of said subset of members of said environment;
 wherein said comparator outputs said power-on signal when the decoded said first type of information matches either of said first information pattern or said second information pattern.  
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , wherein each said member is Energy Star compliai nt, and wherein collectively for each interface said decoder and said comparator consume less than 30 watts of operating power. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim  13    14 , wherein said environment further includes a second member,  configured to receiving e said information broadcast by the broadcasting member, whose operating voltage is switched-off, said method powering-on each said member  said system further comprising;
 a second interface of said second member including a second interface  coupled to receive said broadcasted information, at least a portion of said second network interface receiving operating voltage at all times , said second interface including a second decoder, a second comparator, and a second power control unit, wherein said decoder, comparator, and power control unit are each configured to receive operating voltage while a remaining portion of the second member is not;  
   wherein  said second decoder is configured to decodinge said first type of information included in said received information;  
 wherein said second comparator is configured to compareingsaid decoded said  first type of information with at least one stored information pattern representing a power-on condition, wherein said second comparator is configured to outputting  a power-on signal to said second power control unit when said stored information pattern matches the decoded  said decoded first type of information matches one of the at least one stored information pattern; and  
   wherein  said second power control unit coupledis configured to provide operating voltage to said remaining portion of said second member upon receipt of said power-on signal;  
 wherein each member is powered-on simultaneously when said decoded said first type information matches said stored information pattern .  
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 14 , wherein said received information includes packets of digital data. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 14 , wherein said first type of information includes binary address information. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 14 , wherein said comparator includes  implements a hashing algorithm executed within said interface . 
     
     
       21. A computer system comprising:
   a network interface coupled to a plurality of computers, wherein the network interface is configured to receive information packets from one of the plurality of computers, and wherein the network interface includes a decoder, a comparator, and a power control unit;        wherein said decoder, said comparator, and said power control unit receive power;        wherein said network interface is configured to receive said information packets;        wherein said decoder is configured to decode address information included in said information packets;        wherein said comparator is configured to compare the decoded address information with one or more patterns of bits, and to output a power - on signal to said power control unit when one of the one or more patterns of bits matches the decoded address information; and        wherein said power control unit is configured to pass power from said power source to said client computer system upon receipt of the power - on signal.      
     
     
       22. The computer system of  claim 21 , further comprising a switch unit coupled to a power source, wherein:
   responsive to the power control unit receiving a power - on signal, said switch unit is configured to supply power from the power source to said computer system even if said computer system is powered off or in a low - power mode.      
     
     
       23. The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein said network interface consumes less than  30  watts of power when said computer system is in a power off mode.  
     
     
       24. The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein said comparator comprises a hashing mechanism.  
     
     
       25. The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein said comparator comprises register comparator logic hardware.  
     
     
       26. The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein:
   said one or more patterns of bits are stored in said network interface and include at least a first pattern of bits associated with a broadcast address and a second pattern of bits associated with a client address; and        wherein said comparator is configured to output a power - on signal when the decoded address information matches said first pattern of bits or said second pattern of bits.      
     
     
       27. The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein:
   said power control unit is selected from a group consisting of:  ( i )  power control integrated circuit,  ( ii )  a MOSFET switch.      
     
     
       28. The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein said network interface is located on a card.  
     
     
       29. A method comprising:
   a network interface included in a computer system coupled to a network receiving an information packet including a bit pattern from a server computer system coupled to said network, wherein the receiving occurs while the network interface is receiving power but a remaining portion of the computer system is not, wherein the network interface includes a decoder, comparator, and a power control unit;        said decoder decoding said received bit pattern included in said information packet;        said comparator comparing said decoded bit pattern with at least one bit pattern stored in said network interface and outputting a power - on signal to said power control unit when the decoded bit pattern matches one of the stored bit patterns; and        said power control unit passing power to the remaining portion of said computer system upon receipt of said power - on signal.      
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29 , wherein said power control unit supplies power to said computer system responsive to said power- on signal, even if the computer system is powered off or in a low - power mode.    
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one bit pattern includes at least a first bit pattern associated with a broadcast address and a second bit pattern associated with a client address, and wherein said comparator outputs said power- on signal when said decoded bit pattern matches said first bit pattern or said second bit pattern.    
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 29 , wherein the information packet includes broadcast address information associated with a plurality of computer systems coupled to the network, and wherein the information packet is transmittable to each of the plurality of computer systems to cause each of the plurality of computers to receive power.  
     
     
       33. A method comprising:
   a network interface of a client computer system receiving one or more information packets from a server computer system, wherein the receiving occurs while at least a portion of the network interface is receiving power but a remaining portion of the client computer system is not, wherein the network interface includes a decoder, a comparator, and a power control unit;        the decoder decoding address information included in the one or more information packets;        the comparator comparing the address information with one or more stored bit patterns;        the comparator outputting a power - on signal to the power control unit when the address information matches one of the one or more stored bit patterns; and        in response to the power control unit receiving the power - on signal, the power control unit providing the remaining portion of the client computer system power.      
     
     
       34. A method comprising:
   a server transmitting packet information to a first network interface over a network, wherein the first network interface is included in a client computer, wherein the first network interface includes a decoder, a comparator, and a power control unit and is configured to receive power even while a remaining portion of the client computer is not, wherein the transmitting occurs while the first network interface is receiving power but a remaining portion of the client computer is not;        wherein the transmitting causes:      the decoder to decode the packet information;        the comparator to indicate to the power control unit whether the decoded packet information matches one or more predetermined values; and        the remaining portion of the client computer to receive power based on the indication.        
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 33  wherein the packet information is transmitted over the network to respective network interfaces included in a plurality of other client computers, wherein each of respective network interfaces is receiving power while the remaining portions of the plurality of other client computers are not; and
   wherein the packet information is addressed to a broadcast address, wherein one of the one or more predetermined values corresponds to the broadcast address, and wherein the transmitting also causes the remaining portion of each of the plurality of other computers to receive power.      
     
     
       36. A method comprising:
   a network interface of a client computer system receiving one or more data packets from a server computer system, wherein the receiving occurs while at least a portion of the network interface is receiving power but a remaining portion of the client computer system is not;        the network interface comparing information in the one or more data packets with one or more stored bit patterns;        in response to the comparing resulting in a match, the network interface causing the remaining portion of the client computer system to receive power.