Communication protocol for the broadcast of first/last event detection over a single communication channel

1. An apparatus comprising:

one or more stations each configured to (i) receive local events from a local input and (ii) present broadcast timing information over a shared communication channel, wherein said one or more stations are each configured to (i) present said broadcast timing information comprising (a) a first synchronous local event and (b) a last synchronous local event and (ii) share said broadcast timing information with each of said other stations over said shared communication channel; wherein (i) each station further comprises a receive time delay circuit having a delay time of M and a transmit time delay circuit having a delay time of N and (ii) a propagation delay through the shared communication channel between any two of the stations is less than one clock cycle.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a communication protocol.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said timing information is configured to distinguish between a first local event and a last local event from said stations.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of said one or more stations is further configured to receive one or more local events.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein each of said one or more stations each further comprise a plurality of buffers.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of said one or more stations comprise:

a receive module configured to receive said broadcast timing information; and

a transmit module coupled to said communication channel.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein each of said one or more transmit modules is configured to present said broadcast timing information.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein each of said one or more stations further comprise one or more delay circuits.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of said one or more delay circuits comprises a receive time delay circuit.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of said one or more delay circuits comprises a transmit time delay circuit.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of transceiver circuits configured to receive and transmit said broadcast timing information from said communication channel to said stations through one or more serial links.

12. An apparatus comprising:

means for (i) receiving local events from a local input for each of one or more stations and (ii) presenting broadcast event timing information over a shared communication channel; and

means for sharing said broadcast event timing information between said stations, wherein said broadcast event timing information comprises (a) a first synchronous local event and (b) a last synchronous local event shared over said shared communication channel; wherein (i) each station further comprises a receive time delay circuit having a delay time of M and a transmit time delay circuit having a delay time of N and (ii) a propagation delay through the shared communication channel between any two of the stations is less than one clock cycle.

13. A method for sharing event detection information comprising the steps of:

(A) receiving local events from a local input for each of one or more stations;

(B) generating broadcast timing information in response to said local events; and

(C) sharing said broadcast timing information between said stations, wherein said broadcast timing information comprises (a) a first synchronous local event and (b) a last synchronous local event shared over a shared communication channel;

wherein (i) each station further comprises a receive time delay circuit having a delay time of M and a transmit time delay circuit having a delay time of N and (ii) a propagation delay through the shared communication channel between any two of the stations is less than one clock cycle.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising the step of:

receiving one or more local event signals.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein step (B) is further configured in response to said local events.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein step (B) comprises the sub-steps of:

(B-1) receiving said broadcast timing information; and

(B-2) transmitting said broadcast timing information.

17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein step (B) further comprises:

sharing said event detection information within a time window.

18. The method according to claim 13 , wherein step (B) further comprises:

acknowledging said event detection information.

19. The method according to claim 13 , wherein step (B) further comprises:

determining a first and last local event.