REGISTER READ AND WRITE OPERATIONS OVER AUTO NEGOTIATION NEXT PAGES

Methods and apparatus for register Read and Write operations over Auto Negotiation Next Pages. Register Reads and Writes are implemented using sequences of Auto Negotiation (AN) Next Page messages. The embodiments define mechanisms to use AN Next Pages to carry write and read instructions. It defines a bi-directional communication mechanism to allow writes to be confirmed and read data to be returned to the requestor. Sequences of several AN Next Pages are used to assemble full address and data fields, when necessary. Two link partners (endpoints or an endpoint and an intermediate partner) exchange AN Next Pages with address and data information. The method uses a unique device address assigned to each device discovered in the serial chain to enable write and read operations to specific devices.