Abstract: Equipment protection of a switch matrix (SM) in a network node, which contains a number of matrix modules (M1.1-M4.4, E1.5-E4.6) is achieved by slicing an input signal into k parallel signal slices (x(0)-x(3)) with k>2; coding the k signal slices into a number of n coded signal slices (x(0)-x(5)) with n>k+1 using an error correcting code to add redundancy to said input signal; switching said n coded signal slices through the switching matrix (SM) via n distinct matrix modules; and decoding the n coded signal slices into k decoded signal slices to correct errors introduced while passing through said switch matrix. Preferably, the switch matrix (SM) contains a first number of matrix boards (MB1-MB4, EB5, EB6), each carrying a second number of matrix modules (M1.1-M4.4, E1.5-E4.6). The n coded signal slices are switched via matrix modules on n distinct matrix boards.

Abstract: Equipment protection of a switch matrix (SM) in a network node, which contains a number of matrix modules (M1.1-M4.4, E1.5-E4.6) is achieved by slicing an input signal into k parallel signal slices (x(0)-x(3)) with k>2; coding the k signal slices into a number of n coded signal slices (x(0)-x(5)) with n>k+1 using an error correcting code to add redundancy to said input signal; switching said n coded signal slices through the switching matrix (SM) via n distinct matrix modules; and decoding the n coded signal slices into k decoded signal slices to correct errors introduced while passing through said switch matrix. Preferably, the switch matrix (SM) contains a first number of matrix boards (MB1-MB4, EB5, EB6), each carrying a second number of matrix modules (M1.1-M4.4, E1.5-E4.6). The n coded signal slices are switched via matrix modules on n distinct matrix boards.

Abstract: A transport interface for time division frames, in particular SDH frames transmitted between telecommunications network nodes according to a specified transport protocol, said nodes comprising first circuit means (SM) for processing said time division frames (TRM, TRM2) according to said specified transport protocol, and second circuit means (FP) apt to exchange second information streams (FDS) with said first circuit means (SM) through said transport interface (STI). According to the invention, said second information streams (FDS), exchanged by the transport interface (STI) with the first circuit means (SM) and with the second circuit means (FP), are simplified with respect to said time division frames (TRM1, TRM2) received from said node, in particular are composed by a data stream (BD, T_BD, R_BD) sent in a co-directional way and by an address information (EAR, T_EAR, R_EAR) sent by the transport interface (STI).

Abstract: A transport interface for time division frames, in particular SDH frames transmitted between telecommunications network nodes according to a specified transport protocol, said nodes comprising first circuit means (SM) for processing said time division frames (TRM, TRM2) according to said specified transport protocol, and second circuit means (FP) apt to exchange second information streams (FDS) with said first circuit means (SM) through said transport interface (STI). According to the invention, said second information streams (FDS), exchanged by the transport interface (STI) with the first circuit means (SM) and with the second circuit means (FP), are simplified with respect to said time division frames (TRM1, TRM2) received from said node, in particular are composed by a data stream (BD, T_BD, R_BD) sent in a co-directional way and by an address information (EAR, T_EAR, R_EAR) sent by the transport interface (STI).