Mechanism to save system power using packet filtering by network interface

Abstract

A network interface that connects a computing device to a network may be configured to process incoming packets and determine an action to take with respect to each packet, thus decreasing processing demands on a processor of the computing device. The action may be indicating the packet to an operating system of the computing device immediately, storing the packet in a queue of one or more queues or discarding the packet. When the processor is interrupted, multiple packets aggregated on the network interface may be indicated to the operating system all at once to increase the device's power efficiency. Hardware of the network interface may be programmed to process the packets using filter criteria specified by the operating system based on information gathered by the operating system, such as firewall rules.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 182,195 filed on Jul. 13, 2011, to be issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,917,742 on Dec. 23, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]As computing devices become more versatile and ubiquitous, the demands on their performance increase. Users expect a computer to perform a variety of functions at a high speed without consuming excessive amounts of power. Furthermore, many computing devices are portable and rely on a battery for power. Battery life may limit the use of a portable device when another power source is not available. With the expansion of processing capability of computer hardware, power consumption of the computing device is a growing concern.[0003]Most computers, including portable and hand-held computers, are connected to one or more networks. A computer connects to a network through a network interface. A network interface in the compute...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a technique to improve the power efficiency of a computer chip by using a single interrupt to indicate multiple packets of data. This allows the chip to perform other useful functions instead of constantly responding to unnecessary interrupts. In a low power mode, this technique can extend the battery life of the device and improve the user experience. Overall, this technique is designed to make computers faster, more efficient, and user-friendly.

Problems solved by technology

Battery life may limit the use of a portable device when another power source is not available.

With the expansion of processing capability of computer hardware, power consumption of the computing device is a growing concern.

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