Abstract: A multi-channel network device for interfacing between a plurality of physical data links and a control processor, where each physical data link is characterized by a data stream of data packets communicated according to a data link control protocol. The multi-channel network device includes a plurality of receive-side line interfaces, with each with each receive-side line interface having at least one channel associated therewith. Each receive-side line interface is operative to receive incoming data packets from one of the physical data links such that each incoming data packet is received in at least one incoming data segment. Each receive-side line interface is also operative to determine a time-slot number for each incoming data segment arriving thereon.

Abstract: A digital data transmission system of a type that uses NRZ line coding, comprising apparatus for generating data sequences comprising at least flag sequences and packet data, a frame generator for assembling scrambled data sequences, into frames for transmission to a receiver, and a self synchronous scrambler for continuously scrambling the data sequence including the flag sequences and packet data, and delivering the resulting scrambled data sequence to the frame generator.