Continuous byte-stream encoder/decoder using frequency increase and cyclic redundancy check

A continuous byte stream encoder/decoder process in an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network, the process comprising:

• providing a network concentrator with a plurality of ATM cards and a backplane with a serial line;
• receiving a continuous stream of ATM data cells on one of said ATM cards, each of said data cells including a plurality of data words received at a first rate, each of said plurality of data words including a number of bits in parallel;
• creating a plurality of control words each representing characteristics of one of said data cells, each of said plurality of control words including a plurality of bits in parallel;
• combining said control words and data words into a combined word stream at a second rate higher than said first rate;
• converting said plurality of parallel bits of said combined word stream into a serial stream of bits;
• transmitting said serial stream of bits at a serial rate over said serial line;
• receiving said serial stream of bits from said serial line by another of said ATM cards;
• converting said serial stream of bits back into respective said control and data words using said control words to identify boundaries of said data words;
• recombining said data words from said serial stream of bits back into respective said data cells using a location of said control words.