Method and apparatus for mapping traffic using virtual concatenation

A method, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a packet by circuitry of a node;
• storing, with an ethernet switch, the packet into a first virtual queue according to a destination of the packet;
• mapping first and second bits from the packet within the first virtual queue into a first predetermined group of optical channel data unit containers within a first virtual concatenated group;
• and
• transmitting the first group of optical channel data unit containers within the first virtual concatenated group to a first destination node.

A node comprising:

• a packet network interface adapted to receive a plurality of packets, at least a first packet having a first destination address and a first bit and a second bit, and a second packet having a second destination address and a third bit and a fourth bit;
• an optical port including circuitry adapted to transmit to a plurality of circuits;
• an ethernet switch adapted to receive and forward the first packet to a first virtual queue being associated with a first predetermined group of a plurality of circuits, and the second packet to a second virtual queue associated with a second predetermined group of the plurality of circuits;
• and
• a distribution engine having one or more processors configured to execute processor executable code to cause the distribution engine to (1) provide the first bit and the second bit to the optical port for transmission to the first predetermined group of the plurality of circuits, and (2) provide the third bit and the fourth bit to the optical port for transmission to the second predetermined group of the plurality of circuits.

A method, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first packet and a second packet by circuitry of a node;
• storing, with an ethernet switch, the first packet into a first virtual queue according to a first destination of the first packet, and the second packet into a second virtual queue according to a second destination of the second packet;
• mapping, by a distribution engine comprising one or more processors, first and second bits from the first packet within the first virtual queue into a first group of optical channel data unit containers within a first virtual concatenated group;
• mapping, by the distribution engine, second and third bits from the second packet within the second virtual queue into a second group of optical channel data unit containers within a second virtual concatenated group;
• transmitting the first group of optical channel data unit containers within the first virtual concatenated group to a first destination node;
• and
• transmitting the second group of optical channel data unit containers within the second virtual concatenated group to a second destination node.