Interface Card Sleep Mode Power Management via Memory Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional network interface cards consume unnecessary power in sleep mode due to continuous power supply to all components, including non-volatile and volatile memory, even during standby operations.

Innovation Solution

An interface card design that includes a power supplier, non-volatile memory for storing instructions for both active and sleep modes, and a controller that transitions the card into sleep mode by powering down non-volatile memory if no packet data is received for a predetermined time, allowing only sleep-mode instructions to be executed in volatile memory.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous power is supplied to all components including non-volatile and volatile memory during sleep mode, then the interface card can respond to external requests, but power consumption increases unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the memory system into non-volatile memory for storing sleep-mode instructions and volatile memory for executing them. The controller selectively powers only the necessary components during sleep mode, separating the always-on minimal functionality from the full active-mode operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different power supply strategies are applied to different components based on their specific needs. The non-volatile memory receives power only when needed for loading instructions, while volatile memory is powered down during sleep mode. This localized power management optimizes energy consumption while maintaining response capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If power is supplied to non-volatile memory during sleep mode, then instructions can be accessed, but unnecessary power consumption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstruction accessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Sleep-mode instructions are pre-loaded from non-volatile memory into volatile memory before the interface card enters sleep mode. This preliminary action ensures that instructions are readily available in volatile memory during sleep mode without requiring continuous power to the non-volatile memory, reducing power consumption while maintaining operational readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The essential sleep-mode instructions are extracted from non-volatile memory and placed in volatile memory before power-down. This extraction allows the system to operate in sleep mode using only the extracted instructions in volatile memory, eliminating the need to maintain power to non-volatile memory during standby.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the interface card transitions to sleep mode quickly, then power consumption is reduced, but packet data processing capability may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidpacket data processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller continuously monitors incoming packet data and dynamically adjusts the operational mode. When packet data is detected during sleep mode, the controller transitions to active mode and loads appropriate instructions. This feedback mechanism ensures that the interface card responds appropriately to network conditions while minimizing unnecessary mode transitions and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The interface card implements dynamic mode switching between sleep and active states based on real-time network activity. The system adapts its operational characteristics by transitioning modes as needed, allowing quick response to incoming packets while maintaining energy-efficient sleep operation during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8793523B2Interface card, network device having the same and control method thereof

Publication Date: 2014.07.29 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

An interface card is capable of communicating with an external device and includes a power supplier; a non-volatile memory which stores executable instructions to operate in an active-mode and a sleep-mode; a small-capacity volatile memory which is supplied with power in the sleep mode; a transmitter-receiver which transmits and receives packet data to/from the external device; and a controller which retrieves sleep-mode instructions stored in the non-volatile memory and loads the sleep mode instructions in the small-capacity volatile memory to transition the interface card into the sleep mode if the transmitter-receiver does not receive the packet data for predetermined time period in an active mode. The interface card processes certain packet data in the sleep mode and transitions back into the active mode when sleep mode operations determine that the packet data cannot be processed in the sleep mode. The non-volatile memory, and other components of an external circuit, is powered down when the interface card is in the sleep mode.