Patent ID: 8270328

Claim:
A network device configured to be connected with a network, the network device comprising: a PHY layer process unit configured to execute a process of a PHY layer; a determination unit configured to determine that a link state is a link up state or a link down state by utilizing information provided by the PHY layer process unit, wherein the link up state is a state in which the network device is being connected with the network in a communicable manner, and the link down state is a state in which the network device is not being connected with the network in a communicable manner; a first control unit configured to control an electrical power supply for the PHY layer process unit; and a second control unit configured to shift between a sleeping state and a non-sleeping state, wherein the first control unit is configured to: stop a continuous electrical power supply for the PHY layer process unit, if the determination unit determines that the link state is the link down state during a first period and the second control unit is in the sleeping state during the first period, wherein the first period is a period in which the continuous electrical power supply for the PHY layer process unit is being performed; perform a temporary electrical power supply for the PHY layer process unit during a second period, wherein the second period is a period after the continuous electrical power supply for the PHY layer process unit is stopped; and commence the continuous electrical power supply for the PHY layer process unit, if the temporary electrical power supply for the PHY layer process unit is performed during the second period and the determination unit determines that the link state is the link up state.