Network switch for transmitting data according to an auto-negotiated data rate

Abstract

A network switch includes a plurality of ports to communicate via a communication channel. Each of the plurality of ports includes an auto-negotiation circuit to negotiate a first data transmission rate with a network device in communication with the network switch via the communication channel, a transceiver circuit to receive, from the network switch, data via the communication channel at the negotiated first data transmission rate, and a transmitter/encoder circuit. The transmitter/encoder circuit is to receive the negotiated first data transmission rate from the auto-negotiation circuit, receive the data from the transceiver circuit, and selectively replicate portions of the data received from the transceiver circuit to transmit the data at a second data transmission rate that is different from the negotiated first data transmission rate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.