Method for finding starting bit of reference frames for an alternating-parity reference channel

A method for finding the correct starting bit of each a plurality of reference frames on a reference channel for a data bus which is n bits wide, comprising:

• a. transmitting a plurality of data over a data bus, wherein said data bus is comprised of a plurality of data transmission channels in parallel and a reference channel;
• b. sampling said data transmission channels at successive intervals to create a plurality of samples;
• c. transmitting a plurality of reference frames over said reference channel, wherein each of said plurality of reference frames is comprised of said plurality of samples, and wherein each of said plurality of frames is m bits wide and begins with a starting bit, whereby a quotient of n/m is equal to x with a remainder of y, wherein said remainder indicates a multiple of a number of bits that said starting bit of each successive reference frame will shift in position in relation to said data bus;
• d. waiting for a maximum of m+1 reference frames to be transmitted, wherein said starting bit of each of said maximum of m+1 reference frames shifts through one of a maximum of m+1 possible positions in relation to said data bus;
• e. locking said reference channel when one of said starting bits of said maximum of m+1 reference frames is transmitted in one of said maximum of m+1 possible positions, wherein said one of said maximum of m+1 possible positions is aligned with said data bus.