Transceiver Chip Wake-on-LAN Power Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with Wake-on-LAN functionality face challenges in preserving this feature while minimizing power consumption, as they require continuous network system power to listen for wake-up messages, leading to inefficiencies in power management.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a transceiver chip processing data at the PHY layer and a processing circuit handling MAC layer data, where the transceiver chip generates a notification signal to switch the processing circuit from a sleep mode to a normal mode upon receiving a designated packet, allowing the system to wake up efficiently while the MAC layer enters a sleep mode for power-saving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network system remains powered to listen for wake-up messages, then the Wake-on-LAN function is preserved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network system is segmented into two independent parts: the transceiver chip that remains powered to receive packets, and the MAC layer processing circuit that can be powered down. This segmentation allows the wake-up detection function to be separated from the power-consuming processing function, enabling the MAC layer to enter sleep mode while the transceiver chip continues to monitor for wake-up packets.
Solution Approach 2:
The transceiver chip acts as an intermediary between the external network and the MAC layer processing circuit. It receives packets from the network, determines if they are wake-up packets, and only then activates the MAC layer. This intermediary role allows the MAC layer to remain inactive (powered down) during normal operation while still enabling wake-up functionality.
2Productivity
If the MAC layer remains active to process network packets, then data processing capability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The MAC layer processing circuit is designed to dynamically switch between active and sleep states based on the need for data processing. During normal operation when no wake-up packets are expected, the MAC layer enters sleep mode to save power. When the transceiver chip detects a wake-up packet, it activates the MAC layer to process data, thus adapting the processing capability to actual needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic activation of the MAC layer rather than continuous operation. The MAC layer is activated periodically when wake-up packets are detected by the transceiver chip, and remains inactive during intervals between wake-up events. This periodic action pattern reduces overall power consumption while maintaining data processing capability when needed.
3Speed
If the transceiver chip independently detects wake-up packets, then the wake-up response speed is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wake-up packet detection function is extracted from the MAC layer and implemented independently in the transceiver chip. This extraction allows the transceiver chip to autonomously determine whether received packets are wake-up packets without requiring MAC layer involvement, thereby improving wake-up response speed while keeping the overall system architecture relatively simple through clear functional separation.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device with network connection functionality includes a transceiver chip and a processing circuit. The transceiver chip is utilized for processing a data corresponding to a physical (PHY) layer. The processing circuit is externally connected to the transceiver chip, for processing a data corresponding to a media access control (MAC) layer. When the transceiver chip receives a designated packet, the transceiver chip generates a notification signal to notify at least one portion of the processing circuit to be switched from a first operating mode to a second operating mode.