Patent ID: 8331429

Claim:
A high-speed serial data communication system comprising: a first device including: a first high-speed transceiver having programmable parameters to control transmissions; and a first low-speed component coupled with the first high-speed transceiver to program the programmable parameters; a second device including: a second high-speed transceiver having status information regarding communication exchanges with another device; and a second low-speed component coupled with the second high-speed transceiver to receive the status information; and a communication medium interconnecting the first and second high-speed transceivers and interconnecting the first and second low-speed components, wherein the first and second devices are adapted to exchange high-speed data via the communication medium and the first and second high-speed transceivers, wherein the first and second devices are adapted to exchange low-speed information via the communication medium and the first and second low-speed components, the low-speed information including information regarding status of exchanges of high-speed data between the first and second devices via the communication medium, the low-speed information based on the status information, wherein the first low-speed component is adapted to adjust parameters of the first high-speed transceiver in response to the low-speed information exchanged with the second low-speed component, wherein the communication medium further comprises a differential signaling pair of conductors, wherein the first and second high-speed transceivers both utilize differential signaling for high-speed information exchanged over the communication medium, and wherein the first and second low-speed components are adapted to exchange information by applying signals to both conductors of the differential signaling pair of conductors and are adapted to receive information as single ended signals from either of the conductors of the differential signaling pair of conductors.