Universal digital framer architecture for transport of client signals of any client payload and format type

A network element, comprising:

• an input configured to receive client data having a payload rate;
• and
• an output configured to supply a plurality of first frames within a second frame, each of the plurality of first frames having a payload envelope configured to accept at least four payload groups, each of the at least four payload groups including a payload section and a stuff byte section, the payload section of each of the at least four payload groups including data indicative of a portion of said client data, the stuff byte section of each of the at least four payload groups including a plurality of stuff bytes, the at least four payload groups distributed along an entire length of the payload envelope of each of the plurality of first frames such that the stuff byte section of each of the at least four payload groups is located at a respective one of a plurality of positions along the entire length of the payload envelope of each of the plurality of first frames, the payload section of a respective one of the at least four payload groups being provided between successive ones of the plurality of positions,
• wherein the stuff byte section of one of the at least four payload groups has a first total number of stuff bytes and each of the stuff byte sections of remaining ones the at least four payload groups has a second total number of stuff bytes, the first total number of stuff bytes being different than the second total number of stuff bytes,
• wherein the second frame has a substantially constant data line rate,
• wherein the payload rate is one of a plurality of payload rates, the first total number of stuff bytes is one of a first plurality of total numbers of stuff bytes, and the second total number of stuff bytes is one of a second plurality of total numbers of stuff bytes, the network element further comprising a memory circuit configured to store the plurality of payload rates and the first and second pluralities of total numbers of stuff bytes.