Channel reassignment method and circuit for implementing the same

A pointer circuit for performing pointer processing between receiving and transmitting ends of a plurality of channels, the pointer circuit comprising for each channel:

• an ES memory temporarily storing payload data of each channel;
• a phase comparator generating a stuff request by comparing a write address and read address for the ES memory;
• and
• a pointer determining unit determining a pointer at the transmitting end based on the stuff request, wherein
• the pointer circuit further comprises for each channel:
• first and second selectors selecting, for a destination channel, a write address and a read address of a source channel as the write address and the read address for the ES memory at the time of channel reassignment, and supplying the selected write address and read address to the ES memory;
• and
• a third selector selecting, for the destination channel, a stuff request of the source channel as the stuff request, and supplying the selected stuff request to the pointer determining unit.