System for remotely waking a sleeping computer in power down state by comparing incoming packet to the list of packets storing on network interface card

Patent 5802305 Issued on September 1, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 17, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventors

Assignee

Microsoft Corporation

Application

No. 649452 filed on 05/17/1996

US Classes:

709/227, COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER SESSION/CONNECTION ESTABLISHING713/310By external command

Examiners

Primary: Lee, Thomas C.
Assistant: Ton, David

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Jones & Askew, LLP

International Class

G06F 001/32

Abstract

In a computer network including a plurality of interconnected computers, one of the computers being a sleeping computer in a power down state, the sleeping computer having a list of packets to listen for stored on a network interface card associated with the sleeping computer, a method of waking the sleeping computer from the computer network. An incoming packet of information is transmitted from one of the computers in the network to the sleeping computer. When the network interface card of the sleeping computer detects the incoming packet, it compares the incoming packet to the list of packets stored on the network interface card. If the incoming packet matches one of the packets in the list of packets stored on the network interface card, or if the incoming packet is directly addressed to the sleeping computer, then a signal is issued to wake the sleeping computer. Otherwise, the incoming packet is discarded and the sleeping computer is not awaken.