Patent ID: 8089984

Claim:
A method for networking, the method comprising: in a first Ethernet PHY, said first Ethernet PHY being operable in a plurality of modes, a first mode of said plurality of modes comprising an Ethernet over digital subscriber line (DSL) mode, a second mode of said plurality of modes comprising a mode in which said first Ethernet PHY communicates over a cable that is 100 meters or less in length, and third mode of said plurality of mods comprising a mode in which said first Ethernet PHY communicates over a cable that is longer than 100 meters: determining characteristics of a cable over which said first Ethernet PHY communicates; selecting, during operation of said first Ethernet PHY, one of said first mode, said second mode, and said third mode based on said determined characteristics; and controlling a rate at which data is conveyed from a first media access controller (MAC) to said first Ethernet PHY via a first media independent interface (MII) by controlling a carrier sense signal of said first MII based on a rate at which said first Ethernet PHY transmits data over said cable.