Hitless, multi-rate optical transmission and reception

An apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive an optical signal that carries a multi-rate data signal associated with a first transmission data rate and a second transmission data rate;
• and
• a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to:
• convert the optical signal into a plurality of digital electrical signals;
• decode a first portion of the digital electrical signals according to a first modulation format associated with the first transmission data rate;
• detect a rate change signaling block in the digital electrical signals that indicates a rate change from the first transmission data rate to the second transmission data rate associated with a second modulation format, wherein the rate change signaling block is inserted a pre-determined number of data blocks prior to the rate change based on the rate change from the first transmission data rate to the second transmission data rate;
• and
• decode a second portion of the digital electrical signals received after the rate change signaling block according to the second modulation format.

A method for use in an optical communication device, comprising:

• receiving an optical signal that carries a multi-rate data signal associated with a first transmission data rate and a second transmission data rate;
• converting the optical signal into a plurality of digital signals;
• decoding a first portion of the digital signals according to a first modulation format associated with the first transmission data rate;
• detecting a rate change signaling block in the digital signals that indicates a rate change from the first transmission data rate to the second transmission data rate associated with a second modulation format, wherein the rate change signaling block is inserted a pre-determined number of data blocks prior to the rate change based on the rate change from the first transmission data rate to the second transmission data rate;
• and
• decoding a second portion of the digital signals received after the rate change signaling block according to the second modulation format.