Clock signal decoupling for synchronous operation

A network node comprising:

• a receive line interface configured to receive at least one transmission;
• buffers configured to decouple a line clock signal from input data and to couple a system clock signal to first and second output data;
• and
• a pointer core coupled to receive the first output data from a first buffer of the buffers synchronous to the system clock signal, the pointer core having a pointer core associated buffer configured for synchronous operation with the system clock signal on an input and an output side.

A network node comprising:

• a frame timing generator, the frame timing generator configured for synchronous operation off of a system clock signal;
• a temporary storage device configured to receive data output from the frame timing generator, the temporary storage device configured to decouple the system clock signal from the data and to couple a line clock signal to the data, the data written to the temporary storage device synchronous to the system clock signal, the data outputted from the temporary storage device synchronous to the line clock signal;
• and
• a pointer core having a buffer, the buffer configured to receive the data output from the temporary storage device, the buffer configured to operate on both an input side and an output side synchronous with the line clock signal.

A network comprising:

• a first network node;
• a second network node;
• a communication link for putting the first network node in communication with the second network node;
• the first network node configured with a receive buffer, the receive buffer comprising:
• a first buffer, the first buffer configured to receive at least a first portion of the overhead information, the at least a first portion of the overhead information provided in association with a line clock signal, the first buffer configured to store a first portion of the at least a first portion of the overhead information;
• and
• a second buffer, the second buffer configured to receive at least a second portion of the overhead information, the at least a second portion of the overhead information provided in association with a line clock signal, the second buffer configured to store a second portion of the at least a second portion of the overhead information.

A method for avoiding one or more asynchronicities in pointer processing, comprising:

• providing a first buffer and a second buffer;
• providing a frame structure clocked to a line clock to the first buffer;
• providing the frame structure clocked to the line clock to the second buffer;
• storing a first portion of the frame structure in the first buffer;
• storing a second portion of the frame structure in the second buffer, the second portion different from the first portion;
• clocking out the first portion of the frame structure from the first buffer synchronous to a system clock signal;
• clocking out the second portion of the frame structure from the second buffer synchronous to the system clock signal;
• providing the first portion and the second portion of the frame structure from the first buffer and the second buffer to a pointer processor buffer;
• and
• clocking out with a pulse signal synchronized with the system clock signal the first portion and the second portion of the frame structure from the pointer processor buffer.

A network comprising:

• a first network node;
• a second network node;
• a communication link for putting the first network node in communication with the second network node;
• the first network node configured with a receive buffer and a transmit buffer, the transmit buffer comprising:
• a frame timing generator;
• and
• a temporary storage device configured to receive data output from the frame timing generator, the temporary storage device configured to decouple a system clock signal from the data and to couple a line clock signal to the data, the data written to the temporary storage device synchronous to the system clock signal and outputted from the temporary storage device synchronous to the line clock signal.

A temporary storage device configured to receive overhead information and data, comprising:

• a first buffer, the first buffer coupled to receive at least a first portion of the overhead information, the at least a first portion of the overhead information provided in association with a line clock signal, the first buffer configured to store the at least a first portion of the overhead information to provide first stored overhead information;
• a second buffer, the second buffer coupled to receive at least a second portion of the overhead information, the at least a second portion of the overhead information provided in association with the line clock signal, the second buffer configured to store the at least a second portion of the overhead information to provide second stored ovehead information;
• and
• the first buffer and the second buffer coupled to receive a system clock signal and configured to respectively clock out the first and second stored information synchronous to the system clock signal.