Method and System for a Low-Power Client in a Wide Area Network

Abstract

A network device coupled to a network may be operable to receive an indication from the network that media access control (MAC) management messages will be transmitted by the network at fixed intervals. Subsequent to receiving the indication, the network device may be operable to power down one or more components of the network device and set a sleep timer to a value equal to an integer multiple of the fixed interval minus a transition period. The network device may power up the one or more components of the network device upon expiration of the sleep timer. The network device may power up the one or more components of the network device upon an amount of traffic in a buffer of the network device reaching a threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 in a network device coupled to a network:
 receiving an indication from said network that contention opportunities will occur at predetermined intervals; 
 transitioning to a power-saving mode in which one or more components of said network device are powered down; 
 transitioning out of said power-saving mode during one of said predetermined intervals, and 
 periodically while operating in said power-saving mode, powering up one or more of said components, resynchronizing to a signal from said network, and again powering down said one or more of said components. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said network device is a cable modem, cable set-top-box, or cable gateway. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said indication is in response to a request sent by said network device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more components comprise an amplifier, a mixer, a filter, a data converter, a modulator, and/or a demodulator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more components comprise a media access controller. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said network device is operable to determine said predetermined time intervals based on past traffic statistics and/or patterns. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said network device does not listen to communications from said network while in said power-saving mode. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising, subsequent to receiving said indication, setting a sleep timer to a value that is determined based on drift of one or more clocks of said network device. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 circuitry for use in a network device coupled to a network, said circuitry being operable to:
 receive an indication from said network that contention opportunities will occur at predetermined intervals; 
 transitioning to a power-saving mode in which one or more portions of said circuitry are powered down; 
 transition out of said power-saving mode during one of said intervals, and 
 periodically while operating in said power-saving mode, power up said one or more portions of said circuitry, resynchronize to a signal from said network, and again power down said one or more portions of said circuitry. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said network device comprises a cable modem, cable set-top-box, or cable gateway. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said indication is in response to a request sent by said network device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said one or more portions of said circuitry comprise an amplifier, a mixer, a filter, a data converter, a modulator, and/or a demodulator. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said one or more portions of said circuitry comprise a media access controller. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said network device is operable to determine said predetermined time intervals based on past traffic statistics and/or patterns. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said network device does not listen to communications from said network while in said power-saving mode. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said circuitry is operable to, subsequent to reception of said indication, set a sleep timer to a value that is determined based on drift of one or more clocks of said network device.