Patent ID: 8285884

Claim:
A data aggregation module comprising: a plurality of inputs configured to receive a first symbol and a second symbol of a data stream at a data rate, the second symbol following the first symbol in the data stream; a data aggregation unit coupled to the plurality of inputs and configured to select a mode of operation for the data aggregation unit based on the data rate, the data aggregation unit configurable to operate in a first mode for aggregating the first symbol and the second symbol in multiple clock cycles of a clock signal, the data aggregation unit further configurable to operate in a second mode for aggregating the first symbol and the second symbol in a clock cycle of the clock signal, the data aggregation unit further configured to output both the first symbol and the second symbol in a clock cycle of the clock signal; and a data buffer coupled to the data aggregation unit and at least one input of the plurality of inputs, the data buffer configured to store the first symbol based on the clock signal if the selected mode is the first mode.