Patent ID: 6956852

Claim:
A process for transmitting a packet having a header and variable length payload on a communications interface comprising the steps: a first step of sending IDLE symbols until a synchronization time has passed; a second step of sending said packet header, said header including a START symbol and TYPE field identifying the format of said payload including an FCS sequence; a third step of sending said variable length payload; a fourth step of sending a terminator including an END symbol indicating end of transmission of said packet; a fifth step of sending IDLE symbols if next said packet is not ready to transmit, or returning to said second step if said next packet is ready to transmit; where said header TYPE field includes one or more values which indicate that said variable length payload may vary in length from a minimum length to a maximum length; where said TYPE field uniquely identifies said payload format, said format including Ethernet packets, native IP packets, ATM cells, and control packets; and said header includes declaration fields for BPDU, PRIORITY, VLAN_ID, and an application specific field.