Patent ID: 8364991

Claim:
A communication device configured to operate according to an Ethernet mode of operation and a low power partial functionality (LPPF) mode of operation, comprising: an analog front end, an Ethernet PHY DSP, an LPPF PHY DSP, a data link layer, and an application layer; wherein the throughput in the LPPF mode of operation is less than 1/10 of the throughput in the Ethernet mode of operation, and the LPPF mode of operation is able to transmit data repetitively without changing mode of operation; the ratio between the power consumption of the Ethernet mode of operation and the LPPF mode of operation is at least 3:1, the LPPF mode of operation transmits less data types than the Ethernet mode of operation, and the data types transmitted in the LPPF mode of operation comprise a data type designed to be utilized by the application layer.