Patent ID: 6678728
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
A method of configuring a network device coupled to a network, comprising:storing keep-alive data in a memory device; loading the keep-alive data in a buffer upon initialization of the network device; when the network device is in a sleep state, periodically transmitting the keep-alive data to at least one other device coupled to the network wherein the memory device also stores configuration data for control circuitry of the network device; wherein the buffer comprises a transmit first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer, and wherein loading the keep-alive data in the buffer upon initialization of the network device comprises: reading a first address of the memory; if contents of the first address comprise a command to load the transmit FIFO reading a next address of the memory, wherein the command to load the transmit FIFO comprises an indication of how many data elements are to be loaded; writing the contents of the next address to the FIFO, wherein the contents of the next address comprise a data element; reading a subsequent address in the memory; and if contents of the subsequent address comprise a data element, writing the contents of the subsequent address to the FIFO.