Patent ID: 7710895

Claim:
A method of managing power utilization for use by a first communication system having a first communication mode and a second communication mode, for communication over a PHY connection through a cable connecting said first communication system to a second communication system, said method comprising: establishing said PHY connection with said second communication system; determining a length of said cable connecting said first communication system to said second communication system; detecting interoperability of said first communication system and said second communication system in said first communication mode; selecting a mode between said first communication mode and said second communication mode based on said length of said cable, if said detecting detects interoperability of said first communication system and said second communication system in said first communication mode; selecting said second communication mode as said mode, if said-detecting does not detect interoperability of said first communication system and said second communication system in said first communication mode; communicating data using said PHY connection through said cable in said mode.