Apparatus and method for synchronization of multiple data paths and recovery from lost synchronization

A system and method for transferring data from a source to a destination are described. Data packets are split into multiple data packet portions and are transferred in parallel over parallel data streams or pipes to grouping circuitry where they are recombined into full data packets. Each packet portion is assigned a synchronization code and a pipe state machine state. The grouping circuitry reads individual packet portions from the parallel streams and analyzes the synchronization codes and the state machine states to determine if the individual packet portions were generated from the same packet. If so, they are recombined into a full packet and are forwarded to the destination. If not, an error is detected. The grouping circuitry automatically realigns the data streams to recover synchronization without the need for any feedback to the individual streams to correct the error.