a data communications device that can operate in accordance with two or more protocols having different data formats and error - protection schemes . the protocol - dependent aspects of the device are handled by a peripheral portion of the device , allowing a substantially protocol - independent core portion that is insulated from protocol changes . translation and / or adaptation mechanisms in the peripheral portion of the device allow the device to handle changes in data format and / or pipeline changes such as error protection without affecting the core portion of the device . a device and method are provided for inter - operating with both the spatial reuse protocol and the resilient packet ring architectures .