Method and apparatus for implementing cyclic redundancy check calculation for data communications

A method and apparatus are provided for implementing cyclic redundancy check (CRC) calculation for data communications in a communications system. CRC calculation apparatus includes a CRC tree structure receiving a first CRC input, a data input of N-1 data input bytes; and a length input. The CRC tree structure includes a series of CRC trees. Each of the CRC trees has a seed CRC input, a fixed size data input and provides a CRC result output. The series of CRC trees are arranged in cascade with increasing data size inputs. A multiplexer control logic responsive to the length input selectively couples predefined data input bytes to predefined ones of the series of the CRC trees. The multiplexer control logic responsive to the length input couples the first CRC input to a selected one of the CRC trees; couples predefined CRC result outputs to predefined ones of the CRC trees; and utilizes a selected CRC tree to provide the overall CRC result.