Physical coding sublayer (PCS) architecture for synchronizing data between different reference clocks

A method, comprising:

• receiving a first encoded data stream from a physical media attachment layer at a physical coding sublayer;
• indicating one or more block boundaries in the encoded data stream;
• decoding the encoded data stream based on the indication of the one or more block boundaries to provide a first decoded data stream and a second decoded data stream, the first decoded data stream and the second decoded data stream each having a first data width;
• outputting the first decoded data stream from a first output port and the second decoded data stream from a second output port to a single buffer, wherein the first output port and the second output port are parallel output ports;
• combining the first decoded data stream and the second decoded data stream into a third decoded data stream at the single buffer;
• and
• outputting the third decoded data stream to a media access layer.

A physical coding sublayer, comprising:

• a data reception channel including:
• a first circuit configured to detect synchronization headers in a first encoded data stream received from a physical media attachment layer,
• a decoding circuit configured to decode the first encoded data stream and to adjust a width of the received data from a first width to a second width based on a signal identifying the synchronization headers received from the first circuit, wherein the decoding circuit includes a pair of parallel output ports each configured to output a respective data stream of the second width, and
• a single buffer coupled to the pair of outputs of the decoding circuit and configured to combine the data streams output by the decoding circuit into a single data stream and to compensate for clock differences between a first end of a peripheral component interconnect express link and a second end of the peripheral interconnect express link to which the single buffer provides a first decoded data stream;
• and
• a data transmission channel including:
• an encoder circuit configured to provide a second encoded data stream in response to receiving an uncoded data stream from the media access layer, and
• a first-in-first-out register configured to transfer data between the media access layer and the physical media attachment layer to which the first-in-first-out register provides the second encoded data stream.