Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for synchronously switching at least one plesiochronous signal within a network element. Specifically, a method according to one embodiment of the invention includes receiving the at least one plesiochronous signal, and mapping the at least one plesiochronous signal into at least one synchronous signal. The at least one synchronous signal includes at least one virtually-concatenated signal, where each of the at least one virtually-concatenated signal includes a plurality of sub-signals, and each of the sub-signals is adapted for being synchronously switched within the network element.

Abstract: SDH/SONET signals are transported as a service including payload and overhead information by mapping associated payload data or information and selected associated overhead data or information of at least one SDH/SONET client signal to be transported into a SDH/SONET server signal. More specifically, client overhead information of the SDH/SONET client signal is mapped into free overhead positions of the SDH/SONET server signal. The SDH/SONET server signal is then transported with the SDH/SONET client signal including associated payload and overhead information embedded therein.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for the detection and compensation of frame offset discontinuities for tandem connection trails in general and especially to frame offset discontinuities occurring at the entrance of a network element in a Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) and Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) system. More specifically, a method of transmitting data in a synchronous hierarchic network system comprising at least a path segment between a first network element and at least a second network element on which tandem connection monitoring (TC) method is established for monitoring transmission of information over the path segment is characterised by detection of frame offset discontinuities at the first network element on the basis of the detection of an alteration of the pointer value.

Abstract: A method of transmitting in a synchronous hierarchic network system data is provided using at least a path segment between a first network element (A) and at least a second network element (F) on which a tandem connection monitoring (TC) method is established for monitoring information over the path segment. The method includes suppressing the insertion of all ones caused by the out of multiframe state subsequent to an interruption, distortion or switching operation of the signal transmission path for a predefined time interval.

Abstract: According to the invention a synchronous hierarchic network system and a method of transmitting data are disclosed using at least a path segment between a first network element and at least a second network element on which a tandem connection monitoring method is established for monitoring information over said path segment, and means for minimizing the signal interruption due to a loss of multiframe alignment subsequent to an interruption, distortion or switching operation of the signal transmission path.

Abstract: SDH/SONET signals are transported as a service including payload and overhead information by mapping associated payload data or information and selected associated overhead data or information of at least one SDH/SONET client signal to be transported into a SDH/SONET server signal. More specifically, client overhead information of the SDH/SONET client signal is mapped into free overhead positions of the SDH/SONET server signal. The SDH/SONET server signal is then transported with the SDH/SONET client signal including associated payload and overhead information embedded therein.