Serial communication interface for a local network controller

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved serial communications interface for a local area network controller.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide an improved serial communications interface for a local area network controller which combines station management functions with normal data communications.
It is still further an object of the present invention to provide an improved serial communications interface for a local area network controller which reduces the required interfaces to a modem in local area network.
It is still further an object of the present invention to provide an improved serial communications interface for a local area network controller which provides added station management capabilities allowing greater control of data.
It is still further an object of the present invention to provide an improved serial communications interface for a local area network controller which effectively doubles the use of a serial communications interface to a local area network controller and expands its functionality.
The foregoing and other objects are achieved in the present invention wherein there is provided a local area network including a serial communications interface for coupling a physical layer to a media access control layer and providing data and station management information therebetween.
A first control line coupled to the physical layer has first and second signals thereon and a plurality of bidirectional data lines interconnect the physical and media access control layers.
In operation, the data and station management information may be transferred on the data lines to the physical layer from the media access control layer when the first and second signals are present respectively.
In a more specific embodiment, a second control line coupled to the media access control layer and having third and fourth signals thereon may be provided whereby the data and station management information may be transferred on the data lines to the media access control layer from the physical layer when the third and fourth signals are present respectively