Physical layer device having a media independent interface for connecting to either media access control entitices or other physical layer devices

Abstract

A PHY having a media independent interface (MII) providing connections to a MAC or to another PHY is disclosed. The invention provides a mechanism for connecting a first PHY with a second PHY, wherein the PHY may act as the media access control side of the MII. The system includes a selection means for selecting the mode of operation for the PHY, a MII for providing a synchronous digital interface carrying un-encoded data over separate transmit and receive paths and a translation entity for generating output enables for controlling the flow of the data, wherein the translation entity establishes in response to mode being selected a first flow of data for connecting the PHY to a Media Access Control entity or a second flow of data for connecting the PHY to a second PHY. The translation entity muxes data and control signals based upon the mode selection. A translation synchronization entity is provided. The synchronization entity may includes a 10 Mbps synchronization entity and/or a 100 Mbps synchronization entity. The MII receives a transmit and receive clock from a second PHY when the PHY is connected to a second PHY, and the translation synchronization entity synchronizes the internal clocks and the MII transmit and receive clocks. An interface to a 10 or 100 Mbps repeater entity is provided wherein the interface maps a transmit data path from the translation entity to the repeater entity and receive data paths from the repeater entity to the translation entity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.