Patent ID: 7668194

Claim:
A method, comprising: transmitting a first code through a bi-directional interface from an initiator unit to a follower unit on a first output datapath (“OUT_DP”) of multiple OUT_DPs of the bi-directional interface coupling the initiator unit to the follower unit, the first code to initiate a speed change of a link to a physical medium for communicating data, the first code transmitted at a first datapath speed; receiving a second code on a first input datapath (“IN_DP”) of multiple IN_DPs of the bi-directional interface coupling the follower unit to the initiator unit, the second code indicating to the initiator unit that the follower unit received the first code; placing the first OUT_DP into an idle state in response to receiving the second code; enabling the first OUT_DP after the idle state at a second datapath speed different from the first datapath speed; transmitting the data from the initiator unit to the follower unit along all of the multiple OUT_DPs when the link speed with the physical medium is operating in a fast speed mode; and transmitting the data from the initiator unit to the follower unit along only the first OUT_DP and idling the remaining OUT_DPs when the link speed with the physical medium is operating in a slow speed mode relative to the fast speed mode, wherein the initiator unit comprises either one of a physical layer (“PHY”) unit to couple to the physical medium or a media access control (“MAC”) unit and the follower unit comprise an alternative one of the PHY unit or the MAC unit.