Flow control of frame based data over a synchronous digital network

Abstract

A transmission apparatus and a method for operating the apparatus comprises means for controlling flow of frame based data transmitted from a local frame based data channel interface over a synchronous digital network. The method of operation comprises the transmitter receiving frame based data at a first rate whereafter a buffer is configured to receive the frame based data. A data amount threshold level for the buffer is predetermined whereafter, with respect to the threshold level, an amount of transmitted frame based data that has been received is monitored. In response to monitoring the amount of data received, a signal, in the form of a pause frame, is generated wherein the signal is configurable to adapt the rate of transmission from the frame based data channel interface. Working in conjunction with the transmission means there is also provided a receiver for controlling flow of frame based data, received from a synchronous digital network, to a frame based data channel interface. The receiver is configured to receive the frame based data at a first rate whereafter a buffer is configured to receive the frame based data. Upon pre-determining a data amount threshold level for the buffer an amount of frame based data received is monitored with respect to the threshold level. In response to monitoring the amount of data received, a signal is generated in the form of a pause frame, wherein the pause frame signal is configurable to adapt the first transmission rate of the frame based data over the synchronous digital network to a second rate. In this way, the rate of transmission from a local Ethernet switch may be controlled and the rate of receipt of Ethernet based frame data from a synchronous digital network may be controlled. In the latter case pause frames may be incorporated into one or more synchronous digital hierarchy virtual containers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.