Patent ID: 11909554
Assignee: MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD
Field: Digital communication (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G  Y | IPC G  H

Claim 0:
1. A network device, comprising:
a transceiver for coupling to a link partner transceiver over a wired bidirectional channel, the transceiver including
a transmitter for communicating with the link partner transceiver over a downstream path of the wired bidirectional channel, and
a receiver for communicating with the link partner transceiver along an upstream path of the wired bidirectional channel; and

a controller configured to cause the transceiver to communicate with the link partner transceiver during a plurality of operating periods, the operating periods including:
a first operating period in which the transmitter is configured in a data transfer mode to transmit data signals to the link partner transceiver along the downstream path at a first signaling rate, and
a second operating period in which the receiver is configured in a low-power mode to receive low power refresh signals that are encoded with information from the link partner transceiver, the receiver being configured to receive the information from the low power refresh signals at a second signaling rate that is different than the first signaling rate,

the controller being responsive to the information to control an operation of the transceiver during the second operating period.