Multi-rate media independent interface over a physical coding sublayer

A method for converting a data stream from a first rate to a second rate NA times greater than the first rate such that the converted data stream conforms to a set of coding requirements, wherein the set of coding requirements includes a first requirement requiring that information symbols be arranged in units of a symbol length M, the method comprising:

• receiving, at the first rate, a first data packet containing X1 data symbols and a first inter-packet gap containing Y1 idle symbols;
• generating NA repetitions of each data symbol of the first data packet;
• determining whether replicating each idle symbol of the first inter-packet gap NA times would violate the first requirement;
• at least partially in response to determining that replicating each idle symbol of the first inter-packet gap NA times would violate the first requirement, generating a first number of idle symbols, wherein the first number is either greater than or less than Y1*NA;
• and
• outputting, at the second rate, a converted first data packet and a converted first inter-packet gap, wherein the converted first data packet contains the generated NA repetitions of each data symbol of the first data packet, and wherein the converted first inter-packet gap contains the generated first number of idle symbols.