Abstract: A method of operation for an Ethernet transceiver is disclosed. The method includes receiving, with receiver circuitry from a link partner transceiver, a data signal carrying data. A threshold change in signal quality of the data signal is detected. A fast retrain operation is initiated in response to the threshold change in signal quality. The fast retrain operation includes adaptively self-updating the receiver circuitry based on filter information generated by the receiver circuitry independently of signals received from the link partner transceiver.

Abstract: A method of operation for an Ethernet transceiver is disclosed. The method includes entering a training sequence. The training sequence includes transferring uncoded two-level symbols to a link partner; exchanging updated precoder coefficients with the link partner; and directly following exchanging updated precoder coefficients, transferring multi-level symbols to the link partner. The multi-level symbols being encoded consistent with the exchanged updated precoder coefficients and having greater than two symbol levels.

Abstract: A method of operation for an Ethernet transceiver is disclosed. The method includes receiving, with receiver circuitry from a link partner transceiver, a data signal carrying data. A threshold change in signal quality of the data signal is detected. A fast retrain operation is initiated in response to the threshold change in signal quality. The fast retrain operation includes adaptively self-updating the receiver circuitry based on filter information generated by the receiver circuitry independently of signals received from the link partner transceiver.

Abstract: A method of operation for an Ethernet transceiver is disclosed. The method includes entering a fast retrain sequence of steps. The fast retrain sequence of steps includes transferring two-level symbols to a link partner; and directly following transferring of the two-level symbols, transferring multi-level symbols to the link partner, the multi-level symbols having greater than two symbol levels.

Abstract: A method of signaling between Ethernet transceiver link partners along a link is disclosed. The link includes between one to four twisted pair channels. The method includes, in an offline mode of operation, autonegotiating between the link partners during an autonegotiation sequence. A number of active pairs out of the one to four pairs of twisted pair channels is then discovered. The discovering includes transmitting a discovery signal from a transmit end of the link on the active pairs, detecting the transmitted discovery signal at a receive end of the link, and identifying the active pairs based on the detecting. The link active pairs are then trained to train transceiver operating parameters with a training sequence of symbols. In an online mode of operation, the link is operated in a data transfer mode utilizing at least one of the identified active pairs.

Abstract: A method of operation in an Ethernet transceiver is disclosed. The method includes initiating a training mode of operation, and transmitting Infofield frames to a link partner. Each Infofield frame including a payload field to provide data to the link partner. A flow of the transmitted Infofield frames is controlled such that a new Infofield frame is not transmitted before a previous Infofield frame is received by the link partner.

Abstract: A method of operation in an Ethernet transceiver is disclosed. The method includes initiating a training mode of operation, and transmitting Infofield frames to a link partner. Each Infofield frame including a payload field to provide data to the link partner. A flow of the transmitted Infofield frames is controlled such that a new Infofield frame is not transmitted before a previous Infofield frame is received by the link partner.