Patent ID: 6816505
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
A network device comprising:a first integrated circuit comprising: a media access controller, and a first serializer interface in communication with said media access controller; and a second integrated circuit comprising: a physical layer interface in communication with an external device, and a second serializer interface in communication with physical layer interface and said first serializer interface, wherein said first serializer interface comprises a first receiver/decoder and a first transmitter/encoder, wherein said second serializer interface comprises a second receiver/decoder and a second transmitter/encoder, wherein said first transmitter/encoder is in communication with said second receiver/decoder, and wherein said second transmitter/encoder is in communication with said first receiver/decoder, wherein said physical layer interface communicates with the external device at a selected one of plural data transmissions rates in accordance with a negotiated data transmission rate negotiated with the external device, wherein said first transmitter/encoder communicates with said second receiver/decoder at a predetermined data transmission rate regardless of the negotiated transmission rate, wherein said second transmitter/encoder communicates with said first receiver/decoder at the predetermined data transmission rate regardless of the negotiated transmission rate, and wherein said second integrated circuit further comprises: a transceiver to communicate with the external device; and an auto-negotiation circuit in communication with said transceiver, wherein said auto-negotiation circuit negotiates the negotiated data transmission rate with the external device, wherein said auto-negotiation circuit provides a first control signal indicative of the negotiated data transmission rate to said second receiver/decoder and said second transmitter/encoder, wherein if first control signal indicates that the negotiated data transmission rate is less than a specified data transmission rate, said second transmitter/encoder replicates data transmitted to said first receiver/decoder; wherein said first receiver/decoder determines if any data received from said second transmitter/encoder has been replicated to provide a second control signal indicative of a received data transmission rate to said first transmitter/decoder; wherein if the second control signal indicates that the first received data transmission rate is less than the specified data transmission rate, said first transmitter/encoder replicates data transmitted to said second receiver/decoder, wherein said second receiver/decoder determines if any data received from said first transmitter/encoder has been replicated to determine the received data transmission rate, wherein said second receiver/decoder compares the received transmission rate with the first control signal, wherein if the received data transmission rate is not equal to the negotiated data transmission rate, said second receiver/decoder provides a third control signal to said transceiver, and wherein said transceiver transmits idle data to the external device upon receipt of the third control signal.