Patent ID: 8660034

Claim:
A method for networking, the method comprising: performing a plurality of steps by one or more circuits in a first link partner wherein said first link partner is coupled to a second link partner via an Ethernet link comprising a plurality of channels; said plurality of steps comprising: transitioning a first of said plurality of channels from an active state to a low power state having a reduced transmission rate as compared to a second of said plurality of channels that remains in said active state; while said first of said plurality of channels is in said low power state, determining whether said second link partner has performed one or both of training and refreshing parameters for said first of said plurality of channels; transitioning said first of said plurality of channels from said low power state to a training state when it is determined that said second link partner has performed one or both of training and refreshing parameters for said first of said plurality of channels; while said first of said plurality of channels is in said training state, performing one or both of training and refreshing parameters for at least a portion of said one or more circuits used by said first of said plurality of channels, wherein said performing one or both of training and refreshing parameters for at least said portion occurs prior to an occurrence of a determined need to transition said first of said plurality of channels to said active state; after performing one or both of training and refreshing parameters for at least said portion of said one or more circuits used on said first of said plurality of channels, transitioning said first of said plurality of channels from said training state to a low power state with updated parameters and remaining in said low power state with updated parameters until said occurrence of said determined need; and transitioning said first of said plurality of channels from said low power state with updated parameters to said active state upon said occurrence of said determined need.