Patent ID: 7088680
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
1. A serial communication controller for transmitting and receiving a serial data stream including multiple serial data channels having portions which alternate in time with respect to each other, comprising: a plurality of functional units configured to operate in series according to a serial communication protocol, wherein each functional unit is configured to perform a different specific function of said serial communication protocol, and wherein the plurality of functional units operates in time sequence upon the portions of the multiple serial data channels; wherein the plurality of functional units is configured to perform said serial communication protocol on the multiple serial data channels; and wherein each functional unit is a state machine having a set of unique operating states, and wherein each functional unit comprises a set of memory elements, and wherein state information stored within the set of memory elements of a given functional unit determines the one of the unique operating states in which the functional unit is operating.