Patent ID: 7624290
Filing Date: 2009-11-24
Classification: G06F,H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method of managing power consumption in a home network, comprising: providing a home network having a network master node and at least one network slave node, the network master node and the at least one network slave node being capable of performing a nominal device function and a network administrative function; receiving an instruction for a first device in an active power state that is performing a network administrative function, and not performing a nominal device function, and that is serving as a network master node to enter into a power management state, the first device adapted to perform a network administrative function while in an active power state, the power management state having a lower power consumption than the active power state; transmitting a network administrative function transfer request to devices serving as network slave nodes on the network; determining whether the transmitted network administrative function transfer request has been accented by a second device serving as a network slave node; sending the data to the second device serving as a network slave node determined to have accented the network administrative function transfer request if the second device comprises a best qualified network slave node, the data enabling the second device to start performing the network administrative function while in an active power state; and placing the first device into the power management state after sending the data, thereby reducing a total energy consumption of the home network.