Can I use a Maxim GMSL1 SerDes for non-video data?
Yes, Maxim GMSL1 SerDes parts are "data agnostic" for the main (normally video) channel, which means they do not need data to obey any particular format or protocol. The audio and control channels do need to follow the format and protocol described in the datasheet.
For what is normally video data, these parts have a certain number of data pins (Dx and Dxx) which are input at the serializer, sampled on the programmed edge of PCLK and output the same way at the deserializer. If the data is not video, how it is handled depends on whether it is (or can be made) synchronous to PCLK or not.
Synchronous to PCLK.
Take an A-D converter, used to measure some analog signal and convert it to digital for use by a processor. If the sample clock is in the allowable PCLK range for GMSL1 parts (about 6.5MHz to 100MHz) then the digital output of the converter can be connected directly to a GMSL1 serializer and the mating deserializer can be connected to a processor on the same interface the A-D would have used.
Asynchronous to PCLK.
Take several A-D converters, used to measure several analog signals and convert them to digital for use by a processor. Normally each converter will have it's own clock, and the clocks cannot be synchronized to each other, or PCLK. If the GMSL1 serializer parts are supplied with an oscillator running at the maximum speed (about 100MHz) and the A-D converters use a much lower speed clock, then the A-D outputs (including a clock for each) can be connected to a serializer where they will be sampled at the PCLK rate and output from the deserializer the same as the input signal, but with added jitter because of the asynchronous sampling. This added jitter is one PCLK cycle peak to peak, In the case where PCLK = 100MHz, this means the output has added jitter of +/- 5ns.