To provide a system and method for power saving in IEEE 802-style and ITU-TG.984-style networks.

A system and method for power saving uses information from user and network devices for initiating power savings by the user or network device, to enable power savings on links such as optical networks. A system and method for communications between user and network devices is provided to allow either the user or network device to initiate a sleep mode for the user device. The implementation of a sleep mode in a user device allows powering down of the user device's transmitter and receiver for a specified length of time (sleep time), during which the transmitter and receiver (also referred to as the physical interface of the device) consume diminished power.

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