Patent ID: 7475271

Claim:
In an integrated circuit multichannel packet transfer device, a multichannel interval timer for generating a time-out pulse for each of a plurality of transfer channels, comprising: a counter comprising a first plurality of bits configured to increment through a multi-bit count in a free running loop; for each of the plurality of transfer channels, a selection circuit for selecting from a plurality of input signals to generate a selected output signal in response to a control signal, where each of the plurality of input signals is coupled to a respective one of the first plurality of bits of the counter; a control signal generator coupled to each selection circuit for generating a control signal for each transfer channel; and a pulse generator coupled to the selected output signal from each selection circuit to generate a time-out pulse for each transfer channel whenever a transition in the selected output signal is detected, wherein the time-out pulse timing for each transfer channel is determined by the control signal.