Data network elements, crossbars, and methods providing coupling between remote phy and mac devices

A data network element comprising:

• an network card;
• a PHY device on the network card, wherein the PHY device is configured to provide physical layer functions according to an Open Systems Interconnection, OSI, model, wherein the PHY device is coupled to a physical medium, and wherein the PHY device is configured to communicate over at least one of a Medium Independent Interface (MII) using an MII based protocol, a parallel port interface (PPI) using a PPI based protocol, and/or an attachment unit interface (AUI) using an AUI based protocol;
• and
• an optical engine device on the network card coupled between the PHY device and an optical medium, wherein the optical engine device is configured to convert electrical signals generated by the PHY device according to the MII based protocol, the PPI based protocol, and/or the AUI based protocol to optical signals transmitted over the optical medium without re-clocking and to convert optical signals received over the optical medium to electrical signals according to the MII based protocol, the PPI based protocol, and/or the AUI based protocol provided to the PHY device without re-clocking.

A data network element comprising:

• a network card;
• a MAC device on the network card, wherein the MAC device is configured to provide data link layer functions according to an Optical Systems Interconnection, OSI, model, wherein the MAC device is configured to communicate over at least one of a Medium Independent Interface (MII) using an MII based protocol, a parallel port interface (PPI) using a PPI based protocol, and/or an attachment unit interface (AUI) using an AUI based protocol;
• and
• an optical engine device on the network card coupled between the MAC device and an optical medium, wherein the optical engine device is configured to convert electrical signals generated by the MAC device according to the MII based protocol, the PPI based protocol, and/or the AUI based protocol to optical signals transmitted over the optical medium without re-clocking and to convert optical signals received over the optical medium to electrical signals according to the MII based protocol, the PPI based protocol, and/or the AUI based protocol provided to the MAC device without re-clocking.

A data network comprising:

• a plurality of PHY devices configured to provide physical layer functions according to an Open Systems Interconnection, OSI, model, wherein each of the PHY devices is coupled to a physical medium;
• a plurality of MAC devices configured to provide data link layer functions according to the OSI model;
• and
• a crossbar coupled between the plurality of PHY devices and the plurality of MAC devices, wherein the crossbar is configured to provide first data couplings between the plurality of PHY devices and the plurality of MAC devices during a first time period, and to provide second data couplings between the plurality of PHY devices and the plurality of MAC devices during a second time period, wherein the first and second data couplings are different.