Patent ID: 7664015

Claim:
A network comprising: a) a root node; b) a plurality of remote nodes, each comprising a receiver, a buffer and control logic; and c) a plurality of serial communication links interconnecting the root node to each of the remote nodes of the plurality of remote nodes, each serial communication link of the plurality of serial communication links comprising: i) at least one first line carrying at least two types of packets from the root node to a first remote node of the plurality of remote nodes; ii) at least one second line carrying packets from the first remote node to the root node; and iii) at least one third line, distinct from the at least one first line and the at least one second line, carrying a clock signal from the root node to the first remote node, wherein a second type of packet received at the first remote node is stored in the buffer and processed by the control logic in order of reception and a first type of packet received at the first remote node causes an interrupt to the control logic whereby the first type of packet is processed by the control logic in response to the interrupt.