Patent ID: 8619604

Claim:
A method, comprising: measuring, by a first physical layer device, channel characteristics of an Ethernet cable that connects said first physical layer device to a second physical layer device, said measured channel characteristics enabling identification of a length of said Ethernet cable and a type of said Ethernet cable, wherein said first physical layer device supports both 10BASE-T and 10BASE-Te operating modes having the same link speed, said 10BASE-Te operating mode representing an energy saving operating mode; determining whether said measured channel characteristics indicate that said 10BASE-Te operating mode at the same link speed is supported by said identified length and type of said Ethernet cable; adjusting, based on said determination, autonegotiation information that indicates a set of operating modes for the same link speed supported by said first physical layer device, said adjusting being operative to include an indication of support for said 10BASE-Te operating mode by said first physical layer device; and transmitting, by said first physical layer device to said second physical layer device, said adjusted autonegotiation information that includes identified support by said first physical layer device of said 10BASE-Te operating mode when said determination indicates that said 10BASE-Te operating mode is supported by said Ethernet cable.