Identifying substreams in parallel/serial data link

A method of transmitting a stream of data, comprising:

• dividing the stream of data into a plurality of substreams;
• transmitting the substreams in respective data channels;
• and
• prior to the transmitting step, inserting a respective marker signal in at least n minus one of the substreams, wherein n equals the number of substreams.

A data communication apparatus, comprising:

• a transmitter;
• a receiver;
• a first data channel connecting the receiver to the transmitter;
• and
• a second data channel connecting the receiver to the transmitter;
• wherein the transmitter operates to:
• divide a stream of data into a first substream and a second substream;
• insert a first marker signal in the first substream;
• transmit the first substream to the receiver via the first data channel, the transmitted first substream including the inserted first marker signal;
• and
• transmit the second substream to the receiver via the second data channel.

A data communication apparatus, comprising:

• a transmitter;
• a receiver;
• and
• a plurality of data channels connecting the receiver to the transmitter;
• wherein the transmitter operates to:
• divide a stream of data into a plurality of substreams;
• insert a respective marker signal in at least n minus one of the substreams, wherein n equals the number of substreams;
• and
• transmit each of the substreams in a respective one of the data channels.

A method of transmitting a stream of data, comprising:

• dividing the stream of data into a plurality of substreams, a first of the substreams including first half-words of each word of the stream of data and a second of the substreams including second half-words of each word of the stream of data;
• transmitting the substreams in respective fiber optic data channels;
• prior to the transmitting step, inserting a respective marker signal in at least n minus one of the substreams, wherein n equals the number of substreams;
• receiving the transmitted substreams and detecting a marker signal in at least n minus one of the received substreams to identify at least n minus one of the received substreams;
• and
• reassembling the stream of data from the received substreams on the basis of the detected marker signals.

A data communication apparatus, comprising:

• a transmitter;
• a receiver;
• and
• a plurality of fiber optic data channels connecting the receiver to the transmitter;
• wherein the transmitter operates to:
• divide a stream of data into a plurality of substreams, a first of the substreams including first half-words of each word of the stream of data and a second of the substreams including second half-words of each word of the stream of data;
• insert a respective marker signal in at least n minus one of the substreams, wherein n equals the number of substreams;
• and
• transmit each of the substreams in a respective one of the data channels;
• and
• wherein the receiver operates to:
• receive the transmitted substreams and to detect a marker signal in at least n minus one of the received substreams;
• and
• reassemble the stream of data from the received substreams on the basis of the detected marker signals.