Patent ID: 6839345

Claim:
A system for interfacing in an open system interconnection type network, said system comprising: a media access control layer configured to manage data flow over said open system interconnection type network; a physical layer configured to code data for transmission to a medium; an eight bit transmit data bus configured to enable data transfer from said media access control layer to said physical layer, wherein said eight bit transmit data bus is driven by said media access control layer; an eight bit receive data bus configured to enable data transfer from said physical layer to said media access control layer, wherein said eight bit receive data bus is driven by said physical layer; a transmit ON signal bus configured to indicate to said physical layer that a data frame is available on said eight bit transmit data bus and to indicate a request by said media access control layer for said physical layer to apply a backoff signal; and a receive ON signal bus configured to indicate that to said media access layer valid data is available on said eight bit receive data bus and to indicate that a backoff signal request is received.