Ethernet PHY Sleep-Mode DHCP Signaling for IP Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The periodic transmission of keep-alive messages in communication devices leads to wasteful resource usage and increased power consumption, especially when data is not received in real time, and maintaining IP addresses requires unnecessary network and CPU activity.
Innovation Solution
An Ethernet physical layer transceiver is used to transmit DHCP request packets to maintain IP addresses during sleep mode, allowing the CPU and interface to enter an idle state, reducing power consumption by relying solely on the physical layer for communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If periodic keep-alive messages are transmitted to maintain IP address, then IP address allocation is maintained, but power consumption increases and network resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the IP address maintenance function from the CPU and interface layer, delegating it solely to the Ethernet physical layer transceiver. This allows the CPU and interface to enter idle states while the physical layer continues to transmit DHCP keep-alive messages independently, thereby maintaining IP address allocation while significantly reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The Ethernet physical layer transceiver is empowered to autonomously handle IP address maintenance by transmitting DHCP request packets without CPU intervention. This self-service capability allows the device to maintain network connectivity and IP address allocation while the CPU remains in a low-power idle state, resolving the contradiction between reliability and power consumption.
2Reliability
If entire communication system transmits keep-alive messages, then IP address is maintained, but network resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the keep-alive message transmission function from the upper protocol layers (CPU and interface) and assigns it exclusively to the Ethernet physical layer transceiver. This minimizes network resource usage by eliminating redundant transmissions from multiple system components while maintaining effective IP address allocation through the physical layer's independent DHCP operations.
3Reliability
If CPU and interface operate continuously to maintain IP address, then IP address allocation is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the IP address maintenance function from the CPU and interface, allowing these components to enter idle states. The Ethernet physical layer transceiver independently handles DHCP keep-alive message transmission, maintaining IP address allocation while minimizing power consumption by eliminating continuous operation of high-power components.
Solution Approach 2:
The Ethernet physical layer transceiver autonomously maintains IP address allocation by transmitting DHCP request packets without requiring continuous CPU or interface operation. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through independent physical layer operations while enabling the CPU and interface to conserve energy in idle states.
Data Source
AI summary
An Ethernet physical layer transceiver and a communication device are provided. The Ethernet physical layer transceiver includes processing circuitry configured to transmit a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) request packet to a server after entering a sleep mode.