System for cross-connecting high speed digital SONET signals
DCFirst Claim
1. A modular, expandable, cross-connect system for high speed SONET digital signals, comprising:
- (a) receiving means for receiving at least one signal formatted in a substantially SONET format;
(b) transmitting means for transmitting at least one cross-connected substantially SONET formatted signal; and
(c) cross-connection means coupled to said receiving means and said transmitting means for cross-connecting said substantially SONET formatted signal from said receiving means to said transmitting means, whereinsaid cross-connection means comprises at least a virtual tributary cross-connection means, said virtual tributary cross-connection means comprising;
SONET signal receiving means for receiving a plurality of substantially SONET formatted signals, including means for disassembling said substantially SONET formatted signals into virtual tributary payloads of tracked phase, andmeans for cross-connecting said virtual tributary payloads in space, time, and SONET phase to generate a new substantially SONET formatted signals.
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Abstract
A modular, expandable, non-blocking system for cross-connecting high speed digital signals is provided. The system is capable of connecting DSn, CEPTn, and STSn signals as desired, with lower rate signals being included as components of the high-rate signals or terminating on low speed lines, as desired. The system accomplishes its goals by converting all incoming signals into a substantially SONET format, and by processing all the signals in that format. The signals are typically cross-connected in the substantially SONET format, although an expandable non-blocking wide band cross-connect module is provided which cross-connects any like signals. If the outgoing signal is to be in other than SONET format, the substantially SONET formatted signal is reconverted into its outgoing format. To create a complete system, various modules are utilized, including: add/drop multiplexer means for add/drop applications of DS-0, DS-1, CEPTn signals, etc.; a SONET bus interface; a virtual tributary cross-connect module which cross-connects virtual tributary payloads in space, time, and phase to generate new substantially SONET formatted signals; a wide band cross-connect module; a DS-3/SONET converter; and front end interfaces including a DS3 line interface, and various STSn interfaces. The modules may be mixed and matched as desired to accommodate a multitude of applications.
207 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A modular, expandable, cross-connect system for high speed SONET digital signals, comprising:
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(a) receiving means for receiving at least one signal formatted in a substantially SONET format; (b) transmitting means for transmitting at least one cross-connected substantially SONET formatted signal; and (c) cross-connection means coupled to said receiving means and said transmitting means for cross-connecting said substantially SONET formatted signal from said receiving means to said transmitting means, wherein said cross-connection means comprises at least a virtual tributary cross-connection means, said virtual tributary cross-connection means comprising; SONET signal receiving means for receiving a plurality of substantially SONET formatted signals, including means for disassembling said substantially SONET formatted signals into virtual tributary payloads of tracked phase, and means for cross-connecting said virtual tributary payloads in space, time, and SONET phase to generate a new substantially SONET formatted signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A modular, expandable, cross-connect system for high speed SONET digital signals, comprising:
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(a) receiving means for receiving at least one signal formatted in a substantially SONET format; (b) transmitting means for transmitting at least one cross-connected substantially SONET formatted signal; and (c) cross-connection means coupled to said receiving means and said transmitting means for cross-connecting said substantially SONET formatted signal from said receiving means to said transmitting means, wherein said cross-connecting means comprises a non-blocking wide band cross-connecting means including plurality of data ports and a plurality of associated clock ports, and means for cross-connecting at least said substantially SONET formatted signals received at a first data port along with an associated clock signal received at an associated clock port to respective any of said plurality of data ports and associated clock ports, wherein at least a first group of said plurality of data ports and associated clock ports are coupled to said receiving means, and at least a second group of said plurality of data ports and associated clock ports are coupled to said transmitting means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A modular, expandable cross-connect system for high speed SONET digital signals, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of receiving/transmitting means each for receiving at least one signal formatted in a substantially SONET format and for transmitting at least one cross-connected substantially SONET formatted signal; and (b) cross-connection means coupled to at least two of said receiving/transmitting means for cross-connecting said substantially SONET formatted signal from a first of said receiving/transmitting means to a second of said receiving/transmitting means, said cross-connection means comprises at least a virtual tributary cross-connection means, said virtual tributary cross-connection means comprising, SONET signal receiving means for receiving a plurality of substantially SONET formatted signals, including means for disassembling said substantially SONET formatted signals into virtual tributary payloads of tracked phase, and means for cross-connecting said virtual tributary payloads in space, time, and SONET phase to generate new substantially SONET formatted signals. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A modular, expandable cross-connects system for high speed SONET digital signals, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of receiving/transmitting means each for receiving at lest one signal formatted in a substantially SONET format and for transmitting at least one cross-connected substantially SONET formatted signal; and (b) cross-connection means coupled to at least two of said receiving/transmitting means for cross-connecting said substantially SONET formatted signal from a first of said receiving/transmitting means to a second of said receiving/transmitting means, said cross-connecting means comprises non-blocking wide band cross-connecting means including a plurality of data ports and a plurality of associated clock ports, and means for cross-connecting at least said substantially SONET formatted signals received at a first data port along with an associated clock signal received at an associated clock port to respective any of said plurality of data ports and associated clock ports, wherein at least a first group of said plurality of data ports and associated clock ports are coupled to said receiving means, and at least a second group of said plurality of data ports and associated clock ports are coupled to said transmitting means. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification