Abstract: A device includes a processor and a time slot assigner, connected to a communication line via a physical layer unit. The physical layer unit is adapted to generate a communication line clock signal and a multi-frame synchronization signal. The device also includes a transmit media access controller (MAC) adapted to receive the multi-frame synchronization signal and the communication line clock signal and in response to scan, during a single multi-frame transmission period, multiple transmit MAC memory entry groups such as to retrieve transmission instructions and in response to enable access to the communication line. During a single multi-frame transmission period the transmit MAC accesses at least twice at least one transmit MAC memory entry group. The processor receives a processor clock signal that differs from the communication line clock signal. The MAC also performs reception operations using receive clock and sync signals.

Abstract: A device and a method for exchanging information with registers of a physical layer component. The method includes allocating at least one receive buffer for receiving the status information; associating at least one receive buffer descriptor with the at least one receive buffer; sending to a physical layer component a request to read status information stored in a selected status register of the physical layer component; and writing the status information to the at least one receive buffer descriptor.

Abstract: A device and a method for exchanging information with registers of a physical layer component. The method includes allocating at least one receive buffer for receiving the status information; associating at least one receive buffer descriptor with the at least one receive buffer; sending to a physical layer component a request to read status information stored in a selected status register of the physical layer component; and writing the status information to the at least one receive buffer descriptor.

Abstract: A device having multi-frame transmission and reception capabilities and a method for transmitting and receiving multi-frames. The device includes a processor, a time slot assigner, connected to a communication line via a physical layer unit. The physical layer unit is adapted to generate a communication line clock signal (LINE_TX_CLK1) and a multi-frame synchronization signal (MFRAME_TX_SYNC1). The device is characterized by including a transmit media access controller (MAC) connected to the physical layer unit whereas the MAC is adapted to receive the MFRAME_TX_SYNC1 and LINE_TX_CLK1 signals and in response to scan, during a single multi-frame transmission period, multiple transmit MAC memory entry groups such as to retrieve transmission instructions and in response to enable access to the communication line. Each transmit MAC memory entry group stores transmission instructions that control a transmission of a frame.