Patent ID: 7516226

Claim:
An apparatus for use in a communication system having a plurality of nodes, the apparatus comprising; a first node, the first node comprising a transmitter configured for communication with a receiver of a second node and a receiver configured for communication with a transmitter of the second node; the first node being operative to receive from the second node information specifying an adjustment to one or more equalization parameters of the first node; the information being received in designated portions of one or more ordered sets transmitted from the second node to the first node in conjunction with initialization of a communication link between the first and second nodes; the first node being further operative to adjust the one or more equalization parameters in accordance with the received information; wherein the one or more ordered sets comprise at least one training ordered set transmitted from the second node to the first node during a speed negotiation process carried out between the first node and the second node in conjunction with initialization of the communication link.