An apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive data as a serial data stream, wherein the receiver comprises: a shift register responsive to the data and comprising a plurality of stages (441a - 447a) configured to propagate a stream of characters in sequence, wherein the shift register (380a - 380d) is configured to detect a special character in the stream of characters, the special character being provided for timing alignment, and a multiplexer having a plurality of inputs, each of the inputs being electrically coupled to a respective one of the stages of the shift register, and configured to select one of the stages to generate an output for the multiplexer; characterized by: a logic circuit (441a, 382a; 1181, 1183) configured to transmit, as an output of the apparatus, a first timing information associated with a timing of detection of the last special character received by the receiver, receive, as an input to the apparatus, at least one second timing information associated with a timing of detection of the last special character received by at least one other apparatus, and generate a selection signal for control of the multiplexer based on the first and at least one second timing information. a receiver configured to receive data as a serial data stream, wherein the receiver comprises: a shift register responsive to the data and comprising a plurality of stages (441a - 447a) configured to propagate a stream of characters in sequence, wherein the shift register (380a - 380d) is configured to detect a special character in the stream of characters, the special character being provided for timing alignment, and a multiplexer having a plurality of inputs, each of the inputs being electrically coupled to a respective one of the stages of the shift register, and configured to select one of the stages to generate an output for the multiplexer; characterized by: a logic circuit (441a, 382a; 1181, 1183) configured to transmit, as an output of the apparatus, a first timing information associated with a timing of detection of the last special character received by the receiver, receive, as an input to the apparatus, at least one second timing information associated with a timing of detection of the last special character received by at least one other apparatus, and generate a selection signal for control of the multiplexer based on the first and at least one second timing information. a shift register responsive to the data and comprising a plurality of stages (441a - 447a) configured to propagate a stream of characters in sequence, wherein the shift register (380a - 380d) is configured to detect a special character in the stream of characters, the special character being provided for timing alignment, and a multiplexer having a plurality of inputs, each of the inputs being electrically coupled to a respective one of the stages of the shift register, and configured to select one of the stages to generate an output for the multiplexer; characterized by: a logic circuit (441a, 382a; 1181, 1183) configured to transmit, as an output of the apparatus, a first timing information associated with a timing of detection of the last special character received by the receiver, receive, as an input to the apparatus, at least one second timing information associated with a timing of detection of the last special character received by at least one other apparatus, and generate a selection signal for control of the multiplexer based on the first and at least one second timing information. a logic circuit (441a, 382a; 1181, 1183) configured to transmit, as an output of the apparatus, a first timing information associated with a timing of detection of the last special character received by the receiver, receive, as an input to the apparatus, at least one second timing information associated with a timing of detection of the last special character received by at least one other apparatus, and generate a selection signal for control of the multiplexer based on the first and at least one second timing information. transmit, as an output of the apparatus, a first timing information associated with a timing of detection of the last special character received by the receiver, receive, as an input to the apparatus, at least one second timing information associated with a timing of detection of the last special character received by at least one other apparatus, and generate a selection signal for control of the multiplexer based on the first and at least one second timing information.