Method of transmitting traffic in a communications network and communications network apparatus

A communications network transmission element comprising:

• an input arranged to receive a client signal having a client bit rate and comprising traffic to be transmitted;
• client signal monitoring apparatus arranged to monitor an indicator indicative of said client bit rate;
• transmission bit rate control apparatus arranged to set a transmission bit rate at which to transmit the received traffic, the transmission bit rate being set in dependence on said client bit rate, and the apparatus being further arranged to generate and transmit a control signal arranged to cause a transmission apparatus to transmit the traffic at the transmission bit rate;
• and
• transmission apparatus arranged to receive the control signal and to generate and transmit a transport signal carrying the traffic.

A communications network element comprising:

• an input arranged to receive a transport signal carrying traffic and having a transmission bit rate;
• transport signal interrogation apparatus arranged to determine whether a value for the transmission bit rate is available and being further arranged to, if a value for the transmission bit rate is not available, generate a recovery signal arranged to cause a remote transmission apparatus to transmit a transport signal carrying traffic at a default transmission bit rate;
• and
• local transmission apparatus arranged to transmit the recovery signal.

A communications network comprising:

• a communications network transmission element including:
• an input arranged to receive a client signal having a client bit rate and comprising traffic to be transmitted;
• client signal monitoring apparatus arranged to monitor an indicator indicative of said client bit rate;
• transmission bit rate control apparatus arranged to set a transmission bit rate at which to transmit the received traffic, the transmission bit rate being set in dependence on said client bit rate, and the apparatus being further arranged to generate and transmit a control signal arranged to cause a transmission apparatus to transmit the traffic at the transmission bit rate;
• and
• transmission apparatus arranged to receive the control signal and to generate and transmit a transport signal carrying the traffic;
• and
• a communications network element including:
• an input arranged to receive a transport signal carrying traffic and having a transmission bit rate;
• transport signal interrogation apparatus arranged to determine whether a value for the transmission bit rate is available and being further arranged to, if a value for the transmission bit rate is not available, generate a recovery signal arranged to cause a remote transmission apparatus to transmit a transport signal carrying traffic at a default transmission bit rate;
• and
• local transmission apparatus arranged to transmit the recovery signal.

A method of controlling transmission of traffic in a communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving a transport signal carrying traffic and having a transmission bit rate;
• determining whether a value for the transmission bit rate is available;
• and
• if a value for the transmission bit rate is not available, causing a local transmitter apparatus to transmit a recovery signal arranged to cause a remote transmission apparatus to transmit traffic at a default transmission bit rate.