Patent ID: RE40922

Claim:
In a peer-to-peer environment that includes a plurality of members coupled to said environment including a member that broadcasts information to at least one member whose operating voltage is switched off, a method for powering-on the switched - off member, the method including the following steps: providing each said member with an interface coupled to receive said information, at least a portion of said receiving operating voltage at all times and a network interface of the switched- off member receiving said broadcasted information, wherein at least a portion of said network interface is receiving power even though a remaining portion of the switched - off member is not, wherein the network interface includ ing es a decoder, a comparator, and a power control unit; said decoder decoding a first type of information included in said broadcasted information; said comparator comparing decoded said decoded first type of information with at least one stored information pattern representing a power-on condition, said comparator outputting a power-on signal to said power control unit when said stored information pattern matches the decoded said first type of information; said power control unit coupled to provid e ing said switched- off member's operating voltage to said switched - off member upon receipt of said power-on signal.