Patent ID: 6857080

Claim:
A multi-link receiving mechanism, comprising: a first receiver coupled to receive a first data stream and a clock signal, said first data stream comprising a first plurality of data units, said first receiver delaying said clock signal by a first variable delay to derive a first reference signal, and generating a first plurality of latching control signals based upon said first reference signal to latch said first plurality of data units; and a second receiver coupled to receive a second data stream and said clock signal, said second data stream comprising a second plurality of data units, said second receiver delaying said clock signal by a second variable delay to derive a second reference signal, and generating a second plurality of latching control signals based upon said second reference signal to latch said second plurality of data units; wherein said first data stream and said second data stream are not aligned with each other when received by said first receiver and second receiver, respectively; wherein said clock signal is not necessarily aligned with either said first data stream or said second data stream; wherein said first receiver adjusts said first variable delay based upon relative alignment between said first data stream and said clock signal; and wherein said second receiver adjusts said second variable delay based upon relative alignment between said second data stream and said clock signal.