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Network Adapter Keeps Talking While a PC Is Asleep

Al writes "Researchers at Microsoft and the University of California, San Diego have developed a network adapter that lets a computer enter sleep mode without disrupting the network connection. The adapter, dubbed Somniloquy (meaning to talk in one's sleep), consists of a gumstix running embedded Linux, 64MB of RAM and a 2G SD memory card, connected via USB. The adapter keeps the network connection going and the researchers have also developed a simplified IM client and bittorrent client that carry out more complicated tasks autonomously, only waking the computer if, for example, an actualy IM is received or a download is completed."

13 of 188 comments (clear)

  1. Yo Dawg by decipher_saint · · Score: 4, Funny

    We put a computer on your computer so you can download while you download...

    --
    crazy dynamite monkey
    1. Re:Yo Dawg by Brian+Gordon · · Score: 4, Funny

      The question is whether the NIC can go into a power saving mode and be awoken by an even simpler device when a packet comes in.

  2. Awesome by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 2, Funny

    only waking the computer if, for example, an actualy IM is received or a download is completed."

    So now if my falling asleep leads to the computer falling asleep, it'll wake up to wake me up when it finished downloading.

    It sounds like a dislexic "Yo Dawg..."

  3. Re:Microsoft using Linux? by nycguy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will be researchers formerly at Microsoft "running with an embedded chair" after tomorrow I'm sure...

  4. Re:So in other words... by Shakrai · · Score: 2, Funny

    So in other words you still have a computer running, just not your main computer.

    How's it gonna help those of us that download more than 2 gigabytes of porn^Wlinux distros at a time?

    --
    I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
    We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
  5. Re:Slashdot editor's demonstrate..... by MilesTails · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well you are on about a par with us.for correcting someone's grammar. P.S You are missing a double quotation mark.

  6. Re:Slashdot editor's demonstrate..... by Desler · · Score: 3, Funny

    Posting dupes of 4 month old stories is the Slashdot way!

  7. Re:Microsoft using Linux? by AndrewNeo · · Score: 2, Funny

    If only this hadn't been posted in April their jobs could have been saved!

  8. Re:Slashdot editor's demonstrate..... by corbettw · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now if only they could come up with a NIC card that could do that when the editors are asleep.

    --
    God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
  9. Re:So in other words... by Dogtanian · · Score: 4, Funny

    You think you're safer by having it off 16 hours a day?

    Dude, if I was having it off for 16 hours a day, I wouldn't give a flying **** about some shitty PC security!

    --
    "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
  10. Re:So in other words... by noidentity · · Score: 2, Funny

    So in other words you still have a computer running, just not your main computer.

    Don't worry, they're working on a solution which allows the network computer to go to sleep as well without disrupting the network connection. Perhaps they could add a second network computer that allows the first to power down...

  11. Re:So in other words... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't think that's the kind of buffer Shakrai is interested in flushing

  12. Re:So in other words... by The_mad_linguist · · Score: 2, Funny

    'sup dawg, I heard you like computers, so I put a computer in your computer so you can download while you sleep.