Systems and methods for fast burst data link acquisition

A method of data transmission, comprising:

• receiving a first detect signal for a first burst signal and a second detect signal for a second burst signal in a burst mode data path;
• receiving a reference pattern signal based on a signal from a continuous mode data path;
• generating a first lock signal locked to the first burst signal or locked to the reference pattern signal, and a second lock signal locked to the second burst signal in the burst mode data path;
• and
• outputting the reference pattern signal from a recovery circuit during a guard period of the recovery circuit,
• wherein:
• a frequency of an oscillator of the recovery circuit is locked to a frequency of the reference pattern signal during the guard period of the recovery circuit;
• the recovery circuit is configured to start the guard period of the recovery circuit based on a time when the first detect signal de-asserts or a time when the first lock signal de-asserts;
• and
• during the guard period, neither the first burst signal nor the second burst signal is for being outputted from the recovery circuit.

A recovery circuit within a data transmission system, comprising:

• a signal locking device;
• and
• a logical signal controller,
• wherein the logical signal controller is configured to instruct the signal locking device to:
• receive a first detect signal for a first burst signal and a second detect signal for a second burst signal in a burst mode data path;
• receive a reference pattern signal from a continuous mode data path;
• generate a first lock signal locked to the first burst signal or locked to the reference pattern signal, and a second lock signal locked to the second burst signal in the burst mode data path;
• and
• output the reference pattern signal from the signal locking device during a guard period of the signal locking device, and
• wherein:
• a frequency of an oscillator of the signal locking device is locked to a frequency of the reference pattern signal during the guard period of the signal locking device;
• the recovery circuit is configured to start the guard period of the signal locking device based on a time when the first detect signal de-asserts or a time when the first lock signal de-asserts;
• and
• during the guard period, neither the first burst signal nor the second burst signal is for being outputted from the signal locking device.