Abstract: An interface arrangement provides interfacing between a frame based telecommunications network in which traffic is transported in frames and an asynchronous network in which traffic is transported in cells or packets. Each TDM frame supports a plurality of data structures each comprising one or more channels. Credits corresponding to bandwidth entitlement are issued at a substantially constant rate and are assigned to the data structures according to the size of those structures by a connection control. Each data structure is accorded a threshold number of assigned credits, and when this number has been reached, the data structure is assembled into cells or packets for dispatch into the asynchronous network.

Abstract: A method for marshalling an additional outstation (3) of a time division multiple access (TDMA) telecommunications system including a basestation (4) and a plurality of outstations (1, 2), such as a passive optical network (PON). A sequence is transmitted from the additional outstation (3) to the basestation (4) at a level below the noise sensitivity of a receiver (49) of the basestation (4), detected at the basestation and its phase discrimated. From the discriminated phase the loop delay to the additional outstation is determined and the outstation instructed to realign its transmission accordingly. The sequence and its phases are detected by a correlation process. (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A method for marshalling an additional outstation (3) of a time division multiple access (TDMA) telecommunication system including a basestation (4) and a plurality of outstations (1,2), such as a passive optical network (PON). A sequence is transmitted from the additional outstation (3) to the basestation (4) at a level below the noise sensitivity of a receiver (49) of the basestation (4), detected at the base station and its phase determined by a correlation process. From the phase the loop delay to the additional outstation is determined and the outstation instructed to realign its transmission accordingly. The sequence is a short length sequence and the correlation can be performed by a binary division search method or a lowest common multiple method (FIG. 1).