NBASE-T PHY-to-PHY information exchange method and apparatus

1. A method of operation in an Ethernet transceiver, the Ethernet transceiver operative in accordance with an Ethernet protocol, the method comprising:

initiating a training mode of operation;

transmitting data structures comprising Infofield frames to a link partner, each Infofield frame including a payload field to provide data to the link partner;

controlling a flow of the transmitted Infofield frames such that a new Infofield frame is not transmitted before a previous Infofield frame is received by the link partner; and

wherein the data comprises alien crosstalk data obtained via measurements made prior to terminating the training mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

confirming receipt of a given Infofield frame via an acknowledgement signal from the link partner.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each Infofield frame includes:

a transmit toggle bit; and

a receive toggle bit.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the values of the transmit toggle bit and the receive toggle bit indicate an acknowledgement about what Infofield frame has been received by the link partner.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each Infofield frame include:

a destination port field to identify an application port.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

terminating the training mode of operation; and

following the termination of the training mode of operation, initiating a diagnostic mode of operation, and wherein the transmitting and controlling is carried out during the diagnostic mode of operation.

7. An Ethernet integrated circuit (IC) transceiver chip, the Ethernet transceiver chip operating in accordance with an Ethernet protocol and comprising:

one or more transmit circuits operable to assemble and transmit a first data structure comprising an Infofield frame to a link partner Ethernet transceiver chip, wherein the Infofield frame includes a transmit toggle bit and a receive toggle bit;

one or more receive circuits of the Ethernet transceiver chip to receive an acknowledgement signal from the link partner transceiver chip indicating receipt of the first Infofield frame; and

the one or more transmit circuits operable to transmit a subsequent Infofield frame upon receiving the acknowledgement signal.

8. The Ethernet IC transceiver chip according to claim 7 , wherein the acknowledgement signal comprises an acknowledgement Infofield frame sent by the remote link partner.

9. The Ethernet IC transceiver chip according to claim 7 , wherein the acknowledgement signal comprises an Infofield frame with the receive toggle bit set to an enable state.

10. The Ethernet IC transceiver chip according to claim 7 , wherein the Infofield frame further includes a destination port field.

11. The Ethernet IC transceiver chip according to claim 7 , wherein the Infofield frame further includes a payload field.

12. The Ethernet IC transceiver chip according to claim 11 , wherein the payload field includes one from the group comprising command information and data information.

13. The Ethernet IC transceiver chip according to claim 12 , wherein the data is associated with alien crosstalk information.

14. The Ethernet IC transceiver chip according to claim 7 , wherein the Infofield frame is assembled and transmitted during a diagnostic mode of operation.

15. A method for exchanging information between local and remote link partners coupled via a signaling link in an offline state, the method comprising:

training the local and remote link partners during a training mode of operation;

initiating a diagnostic mode of operation;

communicating information from one link partner to another via a communication protocol during the diagnostic mode of operation; and

wherein communicating information from one link partner to another via the communication protocol comprises:

transmitting data structures comprising InfoField frames to the link partner, each InfoField frame including a payload field to provide data to the link partner; and

controlling a flow of the transmitted InfoField frames such that a new InfoField frame is not transmitted before a previous InfoField frame is received by the link partner.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:

confirming receipt of a given InfoField frame via an acknowledgement signal from the link partner.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the information comprises alien crosstalk information.