Patent ID: 8917742
Filing Date: 2014-12-23
Classification: G06F,H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a network interface adapted for connecting a computing device to a network, wherein the computing device has a processor with a low power mode and a normal power mode, the method comprising: the network interface receiving packets over the network; and the network interface determining, for each packet of the received packets, an action to perform on the packet, including the network interface selecting the action from among at least indicating the packet to an operating system of the computing device immediately by a processor interrupt, delaying indication of the packet to the operating system, and discarding the packet, wherein the network interface, when delaying indication of a packet, places the packet in a queue in the network interface, wherein delaying packets is performed while the processor is in the low power mode, and wherein the network interface, when indicating a packet to the operating system immediately by the processor interrupt when the processor is in the low power mode, also indicates any packets in the queue to the operating system, and the processor exits the low power mode and switches to the normal power mode when the processor interrupt is generated.