Abstract: A method to reduce link-up time between nodes in a communication system is provided. The method includes determining a node in the communication system is in a HANDSHAKE state; randomly configuring the node in one of a master mode and a slave mode based on a determination that the node is in the HANDSHAKE state; determining if the node is in a LINK-UP state with a selected node in the communication system based on the random configuring of the node; and randomly re-configuring the node in one of the master mode and the slave mode based on a negative determination that the node is in the LINK-UP state with the selected node.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a central unit configured to transmit and receive communication signals; a remote unit configured to transmit and receive communication signals; and a regenerator unit configured to regenerate and transmit received communication signals, the regenerator unit comprising a first interface, a second interface and a control and status circuit configured to control operation of the first and second interface, wherein each interface is configured to operate as an independent logical regenerator unit; wherein the central unit and the remote unit communicate over a first communication loop via the first independent interface of the regenerator unit.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a first communication unit having a plurality of application ports; and a second communication unit having a plurality of application ports and coupled to the first communication unit; wherein the first communication unit is configured to extract timeslots from a first signal having a first interface format and from a second signal having a second interface format, and to insert the extracted timeslots into a frame for transmission to the second communication unit; wherein the second communication unit is configured to pass the first interface format signal to an application port of a similar interface format and to pass the second interface format signal to an application port of a third dissimilar interface format based on the order of the extracted timeslots in the frame transmitted from the first communication unit.