Method and apparatus for receiving control signals in a data communication system having a fully digital communication channel

A method of detecting a digital frame slippage for use during a digital communication session, said method comprising:

• establishing said digital communication session;
• decoding data in the form of a plurality of digital codewords;
• selecting a plurality of periodic digital codewords of said plurality of digital codewords;
• retrieving a number of bits from said plurality of periodic digital codewords to recover a sequence;
• and
• detecting said digital frame slippage by comparing said sequence against a predetermined pattern.

A communication device for exchanging digital frames with a remote device through a digital communication channel, said device comprising:

• a receiver capable of receiving data in the form of a plurality of digital codewords;
• and
• a processor capable of decoding said plurality of digital codewords, said plurality of digital codewords including a plurality of periodic digital codewords;
• wherein said processor retrieves a number of bits from said plurality of periodic digital codewords to recover a sequence, and wherein said processor compares said sequence against a predetermined pattern to detect a digital frame slippage.

A computer program product for detecting a digital frame slippage for use during a digital communication session, said method comprising:

• code for establishing said digital communication session;
• code for decoding data in the form of a plurality of digital codewords;
• code for selecting a plurality of periodic digital codewords of said plurality of digital codewords;
• code for retrieving a number of bits from said plurality of periodic digital codewords to recover a sequence;
• and
• code for detecting said digital frame slippage by comparing said sequence against a predetermined pattern.