Interface systems between media access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) including parallel exchange of PHY register data and address information, and methods of operating the parallel exchange

摘要

In a system and method of transferring signals between a media access controller (MAC) and a physical layer (PHY) the signals are transferred on an interface that includes a parallel data bus for the transmission of data signals in parallel between the MAC and the PHY. At the MAC, a PHY register transaction is initiated, by providing, at the MAC, a PHY register address in parallel on the parallel data bus and a control signal on a serial control signal line to request the PHY register transaction, the PHY register transaction comprising one of a PHY register write operation and a PHY register read operation. In the event the control signal requests a PHY register write operation, the MAC next provides PHY register data signals in parallel on the parallel data bus to program a PHY register having the PHY register address. In the event the control signal requests a PHY register read operation, the PHY next provides PHY register data signals in parallel on the parallel data bus for the PHY register having the PHY register address.