Patent ID: 7685442
Filing Date: 2010-03-23
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A network interface apparatus, comprising: a bus interface circuit for operatively connecting a network interface card to a data line of a bus wherein the bus interface circuit is a physical layer controller; a first power controller operatively connected to the bus interface circuit; a first current sensor operatively connected to the bus interface circuit to sense a first current level in a portion of the bus interface circuit connected to the data line of the bus; and a recovery tool to determine whether the sensed first current level exceeds a predetermined level and to cause the first power controller to cycle power to the bus interface circuit in response to determining that the sensed first current level exceeds the predetermined level; a link layer controller operatively connected to the data line on the bus via a physical layer controller; a second power controller operatively connected to the link layer controller; and a second current sensor operatively connected to the link layer controller to sense a second current level in the link layer controller, wherein the recovery tool further determines whether the sensed second current level exceeds the predetermined level and causes the first power controller to cycle power to the physical layer controller and the second power controller to cycle power to the link layer controller in response to determining that one of the sensed first current level or the sensed second current level exceeds the predetermined level.