Patent ID: 7869838
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus to retransmit a data transmission between a first device and a second device via intermediate links, the apparatus comprising: a global link control to determine ports of the intermediate links to transmit the data transmission to a destination device; to determine an activity assignment for the ports of the multiple links based upon forwarding logic, wherein determining the activity assignment comprises determining a data frequency, traffic type, and medium type for the data transmission; and to transmit a control signal with the activity assignment to local link controls of the intermediate links associated with the data transmission; a first port to communicatively couple with a transmitter of the first device via a first data transmission medium to form a first intermediate link of the intermediate links, the first port comprising a first link circuit to couple to the first data transmission medium, to receive the data transmission from the first device, and a first local link control of the local link controls responsive to the control signal from the global link control to configure the first link circuit to operate in a first power mode of multiple power modes associated with the first link circuit based upon the activity assignment; and a second port to communicatively couple with a receiver of the second device via a second data transmission medium to form a second intermediate link of the intermediate links and with the first port to retransmit the data transmission, the second port comprising a second link circuit to couple to the second data transmission medium, to transmit the data transmission to the second device, and a second local link control of the local link controls responsive to the control signal from the global link control to configure the second link circuit to operate in a second power mode of multiple power modes associated with the second link circuit based upon the activity assignment.