Method and apparatus for improved efficiency in protocols using character coding

1. A method comprising using a pre-specified code value to indicate information about an immediately following coded data sequence, wherein there is no explicit indicator for a start of said coded data sequence, wherein there is no explicit indicator for information about said coded data sequence, and wherein said pre-specified code value for a 8B/10B coded data sequence is selected from the group consisting of K23.7, K27.7, K28.1, K28.2, K28.4, K28.6, K28.7, K29.7, and K30.7.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said pre-specified code value represents said information selected from the group consisting of start next free address, start other packet, start read packet, start write packet, start lookup, start other lookup packet, good end of packet, and bad end of packet.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising communicating said pre-specified code value and said immediately following coded data sequence between one or more devices.

4. A method comprising using a pre-specified code value to indicate information about an immediately following coded data sequence, wherein there is no explicit indicator for a start of said coded data sequence, wherein there is no explicit indicator for information about said coded data sequence, wherein said pre-specified code value for a 8B/10B coded data sequence is K23.7, and wherein said information is start next free address.

5. A method comprising using a pre-specified code value to indicate information about an immediately following coded data sequence, wherein there is no explicit indicator for a start of said coded data sequence, wherein there is no explicit indicator for information about said coded data sequence, wherein said pre-specified code value for a 8B/10B coded data sequence is K28.7, and wherein said information is start other lookup packet.