Synchronous transport signal mapper with payload extraction and insertion functionality

A link layer device for communication with a physical layer device in a network-based communication system, the link layer device comprising:

• interface circuitry which provides a link layer device portion of a serial interface between the link layer device and the physical layer device;
• the interface circuitry receiving over a first serial data line of the serial interface a payload extracted by the physical layer device from an ingress synchronous transport signal received by the physical layer device over an ingress link;
• and
• the interface circuitry transmitting over a second serial data line of the serial interface a payload to be inserted by the physical layer device into an egress synchronous transport signal for transmission by the physical layer device over an egress link;
• wherein the payload extracted from the ingress synchronous transport signal is converted from parallel to serial form in payload extraction circuitry of the physical layer device;
• and
• wherein the payload inserted into the egress synchronous transport signal is converted from serial to parallel form in payload insertion circuitry of the physical layer device.

A node of a network-based communication system, said node comprising:

• a physical layer device;
• and
• a link layer device coupled to the physical layer device;
• wherein the physical layer device comprises:
• payload extraction circuitry which extracts a payload from an ingress synchronous transport signal received over an ingress link;
• and
• payload insertion circuitry which inserts a payload received from the link layer device into an egress synchronous transport signal for transmission over an egress link;
• wherein the payload extracted from the ingress synchronous transport signal is converted from parallel to serial form in the payload extraction circuitry and transmitted by the physical layer device to the link layer device in serial form over an output serial data line of a serial interface;
• and
• wherein the payload inserted into the egress synchronous transport signal is received by the physical layer device from the link layer device in serial form over an input serial data line of the serial interface and converted from serial to parallel form circuitry.

A network-based communication system, said system comprising:

• a plurality of interconnected nodes;
• wherein at least a given one of said nodes comprises:
• a physical layer device;
• and
• a link layer device coupled to the physical layer device;
• wherein the physical layer device comprises:
• payload extraction circuitry which extracts a payload from an ingress synchronous transport signal received over an ingress link;
• and
• payload insertion circuitry which inserts a payload received from the link layer device into an egress synchronous transport signal for transmission over an egress link;
• wherein the payload extracted from the ingress synchronous transport signal is converted from parallel to serial form in the payload extraction circuitry and transmitted by the physical layer device to the link layer device in serial form over an output serial data line of a serial interface;
• and
• wherein the payload inserted into the egress synchronous transport signal is received by the physical layer device from the link layer device in serial form over an input serial data line of the serial interface and converted from serial to parallel foim in the payload insertion circuitry.