Optical transport network high order mapping systems and methods

An Optical Transport Network (OTN) High Order (HO) mapping circuit, comprising:

• circuitry configured to:
• receive a first HO signal at a first rate;
• asynchronously map the first HO signal into a second HO signal at a second rate, wherein the first rate and the second rate are substantially similar, wherein the first HO signal and the second HO signal are both OTN signals, and wherein, to asynchronously map, the circuitry is configured to translate a portion of OTN overhead from the first HO signal to OTN overhead of the second HO signal, and utilize pointers in the OTN overhead of the second HO signal for frame alignment of the first HO signal instead of utilizing frame alignment signals in the OTN overhead of the second HO signal;
• and transmit the second HO signal with the OTN overhead of the second HO signal, and wherein the second HO signal comprises the first HO signal with the portion of OTN overhead from the first HO signal;
• wherein the first HO signal and the second HO signal are asynchronous to one another.

An optical system, comprising:

• circuitry configured to:
• receive a first HO signal at a first rate;
• asynchronously map the first HO signal into a second HO signal at a second rate, wherein the first rate and the second rate are substantially similar, and wherein the first HO signal and the second HO signal are both OTN signals, and wherein, to asynchronously map, the circuitry is configured to;
• translate a portion of OTN overhead from the first HO signal to OTN overhead of the second HO signal, and utilize pointers in the OTN overhead of the second HO signal for frame alignment of the first HO signal instead of utilizing frame alignment signals in the OTN overhead of the second HO signal;
• and transmit the second HO signal with the OTN overhead of the second HO signal, and wherein the second HO signal comprises the first HO signal with the portion of OTN overhead from the first HO signal;
• wherein the first HO signal and the second HO signal are asynchronous to one another;
• and optical components configured to operate at the second rate and interface the first HO signal within the second HO signal.