Method and system for transferring variable sized loop words between elements connected within serial loop through serial interconnect

Abstract

A dynamic perimeter circular bus method and system includes a serial interconnect and elements connected in a serial loop through the serial interconnect. In operation, a variable sized loop word is transferred between elements along the serial loop. A sync character of the loop word is transferred from element to element along the serial loop. The sync character is indicative of the beginning of the loop word. At least one present character of the loop word after the sync character is then transferred from element to element along the serial loop. A present character is then asserted at an element to indicate that a data word follows the asserted present character in the loop word. The data word from the element is then put on to the loop word after the asserted present character thereby increasing the size of the loop word. The data word of the loop word is then transferred from element to element along the serial loop.