Patent ID: 7047428

Claim:
A method to operate a system that is operable to support 10 megabit functionality, 100 megabit functionality, and gigabit functionality, the method comprising: concurrently operating the 10 megabit functionality, the 100 megabit functionality and the gigabit functionality within a device of the system when determining a mode of operation by which to establish and operate a communication link communicatively coupled to each and operable to be supported by one of the 10 megabit functionality, the 100 megabit functionality and the gigabit functionality within the device; putting two functionalities selected from the 10 megabit functionality, the 100 megabit functionality and the gigabit functionality into sleep mode; and continuing to operate a remaining functionality selected from the 10 megabit functionality, the 100 megabit functionality and the gigabit functionality to initiate and subsequently support the determined mode of operation for the communication link, the remaining functionality not being put into sleep mode.