Patent ID: 7764614

Claim:
A method for providing multi-mode management of a serial communication link, the method comprising: serially coupling a buffer manager within the serial communication link between a serial interface on a first component and a second component, wherein the buffer manager stores and progresses data from an input to an output; controlling the progression of data through the buffer manager using a state machine having a plurality of cycles, the state machine causing the progression of data through the buffer when a first cycle of the plurality of cycles advances to a second cycle of the plurality of cycles; and advancing the state machine from the first cycle of the plurality of cycles to the second cycle of the plurality of cycles according to a timing signal generated by event scheduler logic that processes an internal clock and associates a first clocking speed in which the buffer and state machine are operating to a second clock speed in which the first component is operating, the event scheduler logic comprising: a flip-flop having a clock input that receives the internal clock, a reset input that receives a reset signal, a data input that receives an output of the flip-flop thereby producing the timing signal that has a frequency that is less than the internal clock; and a multiplexer receiving the timing signal at a first input and a mode signal at a second input, and having a select line that defines the mode of operation by producing one of the timing signal and the mode signal at a multiplexer output that controls the advancement of the state machine.