High speed asynchronous multiplexer demultiplexer
AssigneeLoral Fairchild Corporation
InventorMichael Witchey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high speed asynchronous data multiplexer/demultiplexer system which multiplexes a quantity of independent and asynchronous data streams into a single packetized data stream and then demultiplexes and presents the original input signals at a remote site in their original form is described. The output bit rate of the demultiplexer is generated responsive to the packet arrival frequency of data from each particular channel and the output buffer fullness of that channel. This process reduces the amount of processing required, such that the effective bandwidth of the system can be greatly expanded.
Claims23
A system for communicating data received from a plurality of channels at asynchronous and varying data rates, comprising:
- multiplexing means, comprising:
- means for accepting data from a plurality of asynchronous channels;
- a plurality of buffers for storing the data received from each of the channels;
- means for monitoring the fullness of each of said buffers;
- and
- packetizing means for sending packets of data of predetermined length from each of said buffers, when said buffers become essentially full, wherein each of said packets of data comprises a plurality of data words each preceded by an overhead bit;
- transmission means for transmitting said packets from said multiplexing means at the transmitting location to a receiving location;
- and
- demultiplexing means at the receiving location, comprising;
- means for receiving said packets of data transmitted from said multiplexing means;
- buffer means for storing said packets of data;
- means for monitoring the rate at which packets of data corresponding to individual channels are received;
- and
- means for removing data from said buffer means at rates responsive to said monitored rates and for supplying the removed data to output means for processing said data, whereby said data is supplied to said output means substantially at the rate at which the data arrives at the multiplexing means from the asynchronous channels.
Apparatus for multiplexing data received from a plurality of channels at asynchronous and varying data rates, comprising:
- means for accepting data from a plurality of asynchronous channels;
- a plurality of buffers for storing the data received from each of the channels;
- means for monitoring the fullness of said buffers;
- and
- means for sending packets of data of a predetermined length from each of said buffers, when said buffers become essentially full, wherein each packet of data comprises at least two overhead bits and at least two data words interspersed with said overhead bits.
A multiplexing method for communicating data received from a plurality of channels at asynchronous and varying data rates, which method comprises the steps of:
- accepting data from a plurality of asynchronous channels;
- buffering the data received from each of the channels in buffers;
- monitoring the fullness of said buffers;
- and
- transmitting packets of data of a predetermined length from each of said buffers when said buffers become essentially full, each of said packets of data comprises a plurality of data words each preceded by an overhead bit.
An Apparatus for demultiplexing packets of multiplexed data, said packets of data having been multiplexed by multiplexer means after having been received from a plurality of channels at asynchronous and varying data rates, said apparatus for demultiplexing comprising:
- means for receiving packets of multiplexed data;
- buffer means for storing said received packets of data;
- means for monitoring the rate at which packets of data corresponding to individual channels are received, wherein said means for monitoring comprises means for measuring at average interval between successive arrivals of said packets of data corresponding to said individual channels;
- and
- means for removing data from the buffers in which the data is stored at rates responsive to said monitored rates and for supplying the removed data to output means for processing said data, whereby said data is supplied to said output means substantially at the rate at which data was received by said multiplexer means.
A method for demultiplexing multiplexed data received from a plurality of channels at asynchronous and varying data rates, which method comprises the steps of:
- (a) receiving packets of multiplexed data;
- (b) storing the packets in buffer means;
- (c) monitoring the rates at which packets of data corresponding to individual channels are stored in said buffer means, wherein said monitoring comprises the step of measuring an average interval between successive arrivals of said packets of data corresponding to said individual channels;
- and
- (d) removing data from said buffer means at rates responsive to said monitored rates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.