Patent ID: 6694149
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for reducing power consumption in a network device comprising the steps of:assigning a first plurality of network devices to a first group; assigning a second plurality of network devices to a second group; periodically transmitting a first group control message to the first group, the first group control message identifying a first active set of the first plurality of network devices that has traffic to be received; periodically transmitting a second group control message to the second group, the second group control message identifying a second active set of the second plurality of network devices that has traffic to be received; causing the first active set of the first plurality of network devices to enter an active mode in response to the first group control message; transmitting the traffic to be received by a first network device of the first active set of the first plurality of network devices to the first network device; removing the first network device from the first active set; causing the second active set of the second plurality of network devices to enter an active mode in response to the second group control message; transmitting the traffic to be received by the second network device of the second active set of the second plurality of network devices to the second network device; and removing the second network device from the second active set.