Patent ID: 8018878

Claim:
Device comprising: a Medium Access Control Media Independent Interface, noted MAC MII interface configured to connect said device, either to a second MAC MII interface of a second device, in a mode noted a MAC-to-MAC mode, or to a MII physical interface of a third device, in a mode noted a MAC-to-PHY mode, an Ethernet medium Access Control module, noted MAC module, connected to said MAC MII interface, for performing functions of an Ethernet MAC layer, for communicating either with a second MAC module of said second device in said MAC-to-MAC mode, or with an Ethernet physical module of said third device in said MAC-to-PHY mode; and a back pressure module connected to said MAC MII interface and said MAC module, for performing, in half-duplex mode, either back pressure functions of an Ethernet physical layer towards said second MAC module in said MAC-to-MAC mode or back pressure functions of an Ethernet MAC layer towards said physical module in said MAC-to-PHY mode.