Patent ID: 6653957
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: G01R,G11C

Abstract:
A method of transmitting alternate meanings over a serial communication channel having a multi-bit character set of n-many normal meanings that exclude the alternate meanings, the method comprising the steps of:(a) transmitting over the serial communication channel, during a normal mode, multi-bit serial bit patterns that correspond to applied traffic of normal meanings using the multi-bit character set; (b) applying, during an alternate mode, alternate traffic having at least m-many possible alternate meanings; (c) associating at least a first one of the multi-bit serial bit patterns with a first alternate meaning in the alternate traffic applied in step (b); (d) associating at least a second one of the multi-bit serial bit patterns with a second alternate meaning in the alternate traffic applied in step (b); (e) transmitting over the serial communication channel, during the alternate mode, multi-bit serial bit patterns associated by steps (c) and (d) with the alternate traffic applied in step (b); (f) receiving over the serial communication channel transmitted multi-bit serial bit patterns; (g) decoding the multi-bit serial bit patterns transmitted in step (e) to determine which of the alternate meanings were in the alternate traffic applied in step (b); and (h) supplying at least one signal representative of an alternate meaning determined in step (g) to alternate circuitry operative during the alternate mode.