System and method for digital communication via a time division multiplexed serial data stream

Abstract

A system and method are presented for digital communication via a time division multiplexed serial data stream. A serial communication system according to the present invention includes a serial communication controller having a set of functional units each configured to perform a specific function of a serial communication protocol. The functional units are operably coupled in series in order to produce digital data according to the serial communication protocol. The set of functional units operates alternately upon an active one of the multiple serial data channels within the time division multiplexed serial data stream. Each functional unit may be a state machine including one or more programmable registers for storing state information which determines the operating state of the functional unit. An active channel transition from a first data channel to a second data channel may be accomplished by saving state information associated with the first data channel and 'restoring' saved state information associated with the second data channel. A memory unit coupled to each functional unit may include a separate portion allocated to each of the multiple serial data channels. State information may be retrieved from the functional units and stored in the portion of the memory unit allocated to the first data channel. State information may then be retrieved from the portion of the memory unit allocated to the second data channel and stored within the memory elements of the functional units, thus accomplishing the state 'restoring' activity.