Method and system for phase and byte alignment on a multiplexed high speed bus

A multiplexing method, comprising:

• generating a plurality of serialized data signals in a first integrated circuit device;
• receiving the plurality of serialized data signals in a second integrated circuit device;
• generating a multiplexed output signal from the plurality of serialized data signals;
• and
• transmitting a phase data and byte snapshot back channel from the second integrated circuit device to the first integrated circuit device, the phase data and byte snapshot back channel carrying phase information regarding bit alignment for each of the plurality of serialized data signals and periodic snapshots regarding byte alignment of the serialized data signals;
• and using the first integrated circuit device to adjust the phase of each of the plurality of serialized data signals to preserve bit and byte alignment.

A multiplexing system, the multiplexing system comprising:

• a CMOS integrated circuit device, the CMOS integrated circuit device generating a plurality of 10 Gbit/Sec. serialized data signals;
• a high speed integrated circuit device in electrical communication with the CMOS integrated circuit device, the high speed integrated circuit device including a multiplexer operable to generate a 40 Gbit/Sec. multiplexed output signal from the plurality of 10 Gbit/Sec. serialized data signals received from the CMOS integrated circuit;
• and
• a phase data and byte snapshot back channel transmitted from the high speed integrated circuit device to the CMOS integrated circuit device, the phase data and byte snapshot back channel carrying phase information regarding bit alignment for each of the plurality of serialized data signals and periodic snapshots regarding byte alignment of the 10 Gbit/Sec. serialized data signals, the phase data and byte snapshot back channel being used by the CMOS integrated circuit device to adjust the phase of each of the plurality of 10 Gbit/Sec. serialized data signals to preserve bit and byte alignment.