Patent ID: 8804582

Claim:
A method of operation in an Ethernet transceiver, the method comprising: in an initialization mode transmitting signals to a link partner transceiver via a link; applying an initial power back off parameter to the signals; receiving a request from the link partner transceiver to adjust the initial power back off parameter, the request generated based on a detected signal power level of the signals as received by the link partner transceiver; adjusting the initial power back off parameter to an adjusted value in response to the request; setting the Ethernet transceiver power back off parameter to the adjusted value; communicating the adjusted value to the link partner transceiver; and in a normal operation mode transmitting first data to the link partner transceiver using the adjusted value for the power back off parameter; and receiving second data from the link partner transceiver, the second data having been transmitted with a power back off parameter that is constrained to be within a predefined range of the adjusted value.