Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for adapting bandwidth utilization over fabric links. In one embodiment of the method, a transmitting device transmits data at a first non-zero rate to a memory for storage therein during a first period of time. The transmitting device then transmits data at a second non-zero rate to the memory for storage therein during a second period of time. The second period of time is subsequent to the first period of time, and the second non-zero rate is greater than or less than the first non-zero rate. This method may find application in switching network where the transmitting device is contained in a switching fabric, the memory is a FIFO buffer contained in a line card coupled to the switching fabric via a data link, and where the transmitter transmits data via the data link to the FIFO buffer for storage therein.

Abstract: A method for receiving packet data at a communication channel and transmitting the packet data over serial links of the communication channel. The packet data is sliced into n-bit data portions which are concatenated with a header prior to transmitting an n-bit portion across one of the serial links of the communication channel. The header may include an invert bit to alter the majority sign of an n-bit portion. Other aspects of the present invention are also described herein.