Multi-rate transparent mux for optical communications networks

A method of bit-transparently multiplexing a plurality of client signals into a fixed length container for transport through a communications network coupled to the network interface, the method comprising steps of:

• subdividing a payload of the fixed length container into sectors, and assigning each of the plurality of client signals to a respective one of the sectors;
• for each client signal and its resepctive sector, computing a respective number (Nfs) of fixed stuffs based on the nominal line rate of the client signal and a payload capacity of the respective sector;
• inserting bytes of each client signal together with its respective number Nfs of fixed stuffs into each respective sector of the payload of the container;
• and
• inserting the computed numbers Nfs in predetermined locations of the container.

A method of bit-transparently multiplexing a client signal into a fixed length container for transport through a communications network coupled to the network interface wherein the client signal has a line rate that varies around a nominal line rate, the method comprising steps of:

• computing a number (Nfs) of fixed stuffs based on the nominal line rate of the client signal and a payload capacity of the container;
• computing a variable number of stuff bytes required to keep the client signal aligned with the fixed length container;
• inserting bytes of the client signal together with Nfs fixed stuffs and the variable number of stuff bytes into a payload of the container;
• and
• inserting the computed number Nfs and the computed variable number of stuff bytes in predetermined locations of the container.

An interface for bit-transparently multiplexing a plurality of client signals into a fixed length container for transport through a communications network coupled to the network interface, the interface comprising:

• a network-facing element operable to multiplex a plurality of client signals into an intranode transport container having a predetermined payload capacity;
• and
• at least one client-facing element operable:
• to subdivide a payload of the fixed length container into sectors, and to assign each of the plurality of client signals to a respective one of the sectors;
• for each client signal and its resepctive sector, to compute a respective number (Nfs) of fixed stuffs based on the nominal line rate of the client signal and a payload capacity of the respective sector;
• to insert bytes of each client signal together with its respective number Nfs of fixed stuffs into each respective sector of the payload of the container;
• and
• to insert the computed numbers Nfs in predetermined locations of the container.

An interface for bit-transparently multiplexing a plurality of client signals into a fixed length container for transport through a communications network coupled to the network interface, the interface comprising:

• a network-facing element operable to multiplex a plurality of client signals into an intranode transport container having a predetermined payload capacity;
• and
• at least one client-facing element operable:
• to compute a number (Nfs) of fixed stuffs based on the nominal line rate of the client signal and a payload capacity of the container;
• to compute a variable number of stuff bytes required to keep the client signal aligned with the fixed length container;
• to insert bytes of the client signal together with Nfs fixed stuffs and the variable number of stuff bytes into a payload of the container;
• and
• to insert the computed number Nfs and the computed variable number of stuff bytes in predetermined locations of the container.