Payload translation between frame options in synchronous digital hierarchy networks

Apparatus for converting payload data between a VC-3 virtual container and an STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, said apparatus comprising:

• pointer processing means capable of reading a first set of pointer bytes, said first set of pointer bytes pointing to a position within said VC-4 virtual container of each of a plurality of VC-3 virtual containers;
• memory means arranged for storing first, secondhand third read VC-3 virtual containers from positions within said VC-4 virtual container indicated by said first set of pointer bytes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining start positions within an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining positions within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes of a plurality of redundant stuff bytes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said start positions of said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said positions of said redundant stuff bytes within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• and
• memory means arranged for storing said VC-3 virtual container payload data in a memory area allocated for said:
• STS-3C synchronous payload envelope at memory positions corresponding to said plurality of said STS-1 SPEs within said STS-3C SPE, wherein
• said pointer processing means determine positions within an SIS-1 synchronous payload envelope of each of a plurality of redundant stuff bytes, wherein a said STS-1 synchronous payload envelope is written as a 9 byte row×87 byte column array;
• and
• said plurality of redundant stuff bytes are set as occupying a 30th said column of bytes and a 59th said column of bytes.

A method of converting payload data between a VC-3 virtual container and an STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, said method comprising the steps of:

• reading an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope, said STS-3C synchronous payload envelope containing a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• generating a VC-4 virtual container;
• writing said plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes to said VC-4 virtual container;
• determining values for a plurality of VC-3 virtual container pointers for identifying positions of said VC-3 containers within said VC-4;
• writing said VC-3 pointer values as VC-3 pointer bytes within said VC-4 container;
• and
• writing a plurality of stuff bytes to said VC-4 container.

Apparatus for converting payload data between a VC-3 virtual container and an STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, said apparatus comprising:

• receiver means for receiving an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope, said STS-3C synchronous payload envelope containing a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• memory means arranged for storing said plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes received by said receiver means within a memory area arranged to store a VC-4 container;
• pointer processing means capable of generating VC-3 virtual container pointer bytes, and writing said VC-3 pointer bytes within said memory area allocated to said VC-4 container;
• and
• pointer processing means capable of generating a set of VC-4 overhead bytes and writing said overhead bytes to said memory area allocated for storing said VC-4 container.

A method of synchronously converting data between a plurality of VC-3 container streams and a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelope streams, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a VCA container stream containing said plurality of VC-3 container streams;
• identifying each said VC-3 container stream within said VC-4 container stream and reading each said VC-3 container stream;
• adding redundant stuff bytes to each said VC-3 container stream;
• and
• writing said plurality of VC-3 container streams to a stream of 9 byte column×261 byte row STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes.

A method of synchronously converting a stream of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes to a stream of VC-3 virtual containers, said method comprising the steps of:

• reading a stream of STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes, said STS-3 synchronous payload envelope stream containing a plurality of streams of said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• for each STS-3 synchronous payload envelope, identifying a start position of each of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes contained within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelope;
• for each STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, removing a plurality of redundant stuff bytes;
• writing said plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelope streams to a stream of 9 byte column×255 byte row containers;
• to each said 9 byte×255 byte container, pre-pending a set of pointer bytes indicating start positions of each of a plurality of said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes within said container;
• for each said container, adding a plurality of redundant stuff bytes;
• and
• for each said container adding a set of container overhead bytes.

A method of converting payload data between a VC-3 virtual container and an STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, said method comprising the steps of:

• reading a first set of pointer bytes, said first set of pointer bytes pointing to a position within said VC-4 virtual container of each of a plurality of VC-3 virtual containers;
• reading bytes of first, second and third VC-3 virtual containers from positions within said VC-4 virtual container indicated by said first set of pointer bytes;
• generating an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope;
• determining start positions within an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope of each of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• determining positions within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes of each of a plurality of redundant stuff bytes;
• determining a set of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes pointer byte values for pointing to said start positions of said plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes;
• determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said positions of said redundant stuff bytes within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• and
• writing said bytes of said first, second and third VC-3 virtual containers into positions within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes allocated for said plurality of said STS-1 SPEs, wherein
• said step of determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said positions of said redundant stuff bytes within a said STS-1 synchronous payload envelope comprises:
• writing said STS-1 synchronous payload envelope as a 9 byte row×87 byte column array, and setting said pointer byte values to point to a first byte of a 30th said column and to a first byte of a 59th said column.

A method of converting payload data between a VC-3 virtual container and an STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, said method comprising the steps of:

• reading a first set of pointer bytes, said first set of pointer bytes pointing to a position within said VC-4 virtual container of each of a plurality of VC-3 virtual containers;
• reading bytes of first, second and third VC-3 virtual containers from positions within said VC-4 virtual container indicated by said first set of pointer bytes;
• generating an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope;
• determining start positions within an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope of each of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• determining positions within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes of each of a plurality of redundant stuff bytes;
• determining a set of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes pointer byte values for pointing to said start positions of said plurality of STS-1 synchronous
• payload envelopes within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes;
• determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said positions of said redundant stuff bytes within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• and
• writing said bytes of said first, second and third VC-3 virtual containers into positions within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes allocated for said plurality of said STS-1 SPEs, wherein
• said step of determining start positions within the STS-3C synchronous payload envelope of each of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes comprises the steps of:
• allocating a memory area for storing an array of 9 rows of bytes×261 columns of bytes;
• and
• setting said start positions of said plurality of said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes as being at a first byte of a first said column, a first byte of a second said column and a first byte of a third said column.

A method of converting payload data between a VC-3 virtual container and an STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, said method comprising the steps of:

• reading a first set of pointer bytes, said first set of pointer bytes pointing to a position within said VC-4 virtual container of each of a plurality of VC-3 virtual containers;
• reading bytes of first, second and third VC-3 virtual containers from positions within said VC-4 virtual container indicated by said first set of pointer bytes;
• generating an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope;
• determining start positions within an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope of each of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• determining positions within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes of each of a plurality of redundant stuff bytes;
• determining a set of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes pointer byte values for pointing to said start positions of said plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes;
• determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said positions of said redundant stuff bytes within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• and
• writing said bytes of said first, second and third VC-3 virtual containers into positions within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes allocated for said plurality of said STS-1 SPEs, wherein
• said step of writing- bytes of said first, second and third VC-3 -virtual containers into STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes comprises:
• writing each of a plurality of columns of a said VC-3 container to a corresponding respective column in a 9 byte×261 byte memory array comprising a said STS-3C synchronous payload envelope.

A method of converting payload data between a VC-3 virtual container and an STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, said method comprising the steps of:

• reading a first set of pointer bytes, said first set of pointer bytes pointing to a position within said VC-4 virtual container of each of a plurality of VC-3 virtual containers;
• reading bytes of first, second and third VC-3 virtual containers from positions within said VC-4 virtual container indicated by said first set of pointer bytes;
• generating an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope;
• determining start positions within an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope of each of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• determining positions within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes of each of a plurality of redundant stuff bytes;
• determining a set of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes pointer byte values for pointing,to said start positions of said plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes;
• determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said positions of said redundant stuff bytes within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• and
• writing said bytes of said first, second and third VC-3 virtual containers into positions within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes allocated for said plurality of said STS-1 SPEs, wherein
• a said step of writing bytes of said first, second and third VC-3 virtual containers into positions allocated for said SPS-1 synchronous payload envelopes comprises the steps of:
• writing a plurality of columns of said VC-3 virtual containers into columns of a 9 byte row×261 byte column memory array, at positions of the 1st to 29th byte columns, the 31st to 58th byte columns, 60th to 87th byte columns 89th to 116th byte columns, 118th to 146th byte columns, 147th to 175th byte columns, 178th to 204th byte columns, 209th to 235th byte columns and 234th to 261st byte columns.

Apparatus for converting payload data between a VC-3 virtual container and an STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, said apparatus comprising:

• pointer processing means capable of reading a first set of pointer bytes, said first set of pointer bytes pointing to a position within said VC-4 virtual container of each of a plurality of VC-3 virtual containers;
• memory means arranged for storing first, secondhand third read VC-3 virtual containers from positions within said VC-4 virtual container indicated by said first set of pointer bytes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining start positions within an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining positions within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes of a plurality of redundant stuff bytes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said start positions of said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said positions of said redundant stuff bytes within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• and
• memory means arranged for storing said VC-3 virtual container payload data in a memory area allocated for said STS-3C synchronous payload envelope at memory positions corresponding to said plurality of said STS-1 SPEs within said STS-3C SPE, wherein
• said pointer processing means determine a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said positions of said redundant stuff bytes within a said STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, wherein
• said STS-1 synchronous payload envelope is written as a 9 byte row×87 byte column array, and said pointer byte values are set to point to a first byte of a 30th said column and to a first byte of a 59th said column.

Apparatus for converting payload data between a VC-3 virtual container and an STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, said apparatus comprising:

• pointer processing means capable of reading a first set of pointer bytes, said first set of pointer bytes pointing to a position within said VC-4 virtual container of each of a plurality of VC-3 virtual containers;
• memory means arranged for storing first, second and third read VC-3 virtual containers from positions within said VC-4 virtual container indicated by said first set of pointer bytes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining start positions within an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining positions within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes of a plurality of redundant stuff bytes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said start positions of said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said positions of said redundant stuff bytes within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• and
• memory means arranged for storing said VC-3 virtual container payload data in a memory area allocated for said STS-3C synchronous payload envelope at memory positions corresponding to said plurality of said STS-1 SPEs within said STS-3C SPE, wherein
• said pointer processing means determine start positions within the STS-3C synchronous payload envelope of each of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes by allocating a memory area for storing an array of 9 rows of bytes×261 columns of bytes;
• and setting said start positions of said plurality of said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes as being at a first byte of a first said column, a first byte of a second said column and a first byte of a third said column.

Apparatus for converting payload data between a VC-3 virtual container and an STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, said apparatus comprising:

• pointer processing means capable of reading a first set of pointer bytes, said first set of pointer bytes pointing to a position within said VC-4 virtual container of each of a plurality of VC-3 virtual containers;
• memory means arranged for storing first, second and third read VC-3 virtual containers from positions within said VC-4 virtual container indicated by said first set of pointer bytes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining start positions within an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining positions within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes of a plurality of redundant stuff bytes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining a set of pointer, byte values for pointing to said start positions of said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said positions of said redundant stuff bytes within said, STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• and
• memory means arranged for storing said VC-3 virtual container payload data in a memory area allocated for said STS-3C synchronous payload envelope at memory positions corresponding to said plurality of said STS-1 SPEs within said STS-3C SPE, wherein said pointer processing means write bytes of said first, second and third VC-3 virtual containers into STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes by writing each of a plurality of columns of a said VC-3 container to a corresponding respective column in a 9 byte×261 byte memory array comprising a said STS-3C synchronous payload envelope.

Apparatus for converting payload data between a VC-3 virtual container and an STS-1 synchronous payload envelope, said apparatus comprising:

• pointer processing means capable of reading a first set of pointer bytes, said first set of pointer bytes pointing to a position within said VC-4 virtual container of each of a plurality of VC-3 virtual containers;
• memory means arranged for storing first, second and third read VC-3 virtual containers from positions within said VC-4 virtual container indicated by said first set of pointer bytes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining start positions within an STS-3C synchronous payload envelope of a plurality of STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining positions within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes of a plurality of redundant stuff bytes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said start positions of said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes within said STS-3C synchronous payload envelopes;
• pointer processing means capable of determining a set of pointer byte values for pointing to said positions of said redundant stuff bytes within said STS-1 synchronous payload envelopes;
• and
• memory means arranged for storing said VC-3 virtual container payload data in a memory area allocated for said STS-3C synchronous payload envelope at memory positions corresponding said plurality of said STS-1 SPEs within said STS-3C SPE, wherein said pointer processing means write bytes of said first, second and third VC-3 virtual containers into positions allocated for said SPS-1 synchronous payload envelopes by writing a plurality of columns of said VC-3 virtual containers into columns of a 9 byte column memory array, at positions of the 1st to 29th byte columns, the 31st to 58th byte columns, 60th to 87th byte columns, 89th to 116th byte columns, 118th to 146th byte columns, 147th to 75th byte columns, 178th to 204th byte columns, 209th to 235th byte columns and 234th to 261st byte columns.