Abstract: Binary data is transmitted to a network physical layer from a media access controller as a series of multibit nibbles and is encoded into a multi-level data stream and split among a number of transmission channels, thereby reducing the signal frequency necessary to carry the data on each one of the transmission channels. The multi-level signal is then translated at a receiver back into a binary data stream. In a specific embodiment, the symbol transmission frequency on each of the transmission channels is at the same frequency as the nibble transfer rate between the media access controller and the physical layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting an 8-bit binary format data word as a 6-trit ternary code word includes an encoder, a decoder, and a code assignment that produce, for each 8-bit data word value, an unique 6-trit ternary code word that is particularly optimized for transmission over twisted-pair cable. The logic circuitry of the invention is optimized to accomplish the translation using a small number of combinatorial logic gates. The present invention thus has advantages in size, speed and performance over other possible means for encoding an 8 bit data word to a 6 trit code word.