Patent ID: 8599846

Claim:
A communication system comprising: a first card that is configured to provide input and output interfaces and receive data over at least one interface in accordance with one of a plurality of communication protocols, which includes at least an internet protocol (IP) packet protocol; and a second card that is interconnected with the first card; the first card configured to send the received data in a data structure cell to the second card over a link in one of a plurality of logical channels, wherein the plurality of logical channels are configured to concurrently transfer data over a plurality of communication protocols, each communication protocol of the plurality of communication protocols specifying a procedure for communication independent of data and data type carried by the communication protocol, and control data over the link in data structure cells that include a payload field that carries a payload in accordance with the plurality of communication protocols and a header field that includes a plurality of fields including a channel indication and the first card configured to provide per logical channel flow control to independently control transfer of data over logical channels.