Abstract: It is proposed that currently unused portions of transport overhead in frames sent on a high-speed outgoing channel be used to carry error count information from each of four low-speed input channels. At a 4:1 combiner, error monitoring bytes are extracted from transport overhead of frames received on each of the four input channels. Error counts are determined and accumulated for each input channel before being passed to a transport overhead generator for the outgoing channel, where they are inserted as bit patterns in unused portions of the transport overhead. At a receiving demultiplexer, the error counts are extracted from the transport overhead of incoming frames. The extracted error counts are then used to alter the error monitoring bytes included in the transport overhead of frames sent on each of four outgoing channels such that, at the far end of those outgoing channels, a correct number of errors for the three part path may be determined.

Abstract: An automated method of detecting, and provisioning connections between interconnected nodes in a consolidated network element involves sending messages between the nodes. The messages are inserted into data frames sent from respective transmit ports through inter-node links, to respective receive ports. The messages contain information used to provision the receive ports at which they are received, and information for identifying equipment that generated, transmitted, and conveyed the message, respectively, so that the connectivity of the interconnected nodes can be verified.

Abstract: Signal degrade (SD) propagation is provided for transparent mux/demux (T-Mux) systems to enable timely and more accurate performance monitoring and protection capabilities. A transparent node comprising two T-Muxs connected via a high-rate span between first and second sites common to a plurality of trib telecommunication systems provides continuity to all tribs and maintains the lower bit rate systems through the span. SD indicia, such as bit errors, on respective incoming trib signals at a T-Mux are accumulated over a relatively short fixed period. The SD information is encoded in a message byte and transported, alternately with a synchronization message, to the companion T-Mux in otherwise available signaling overhead. Upon receipt of the T-Mux message, for each trib signal, the downstream T-Mux generates a corresponding signal degrade condition on outgoing trib signals.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a method of encoding bit error rates using a two-tiered system. If the bit error rate is less than a threshold value, the bit error rate is directly encoded in binary into substantially equal portions. However, if the error rate is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the error rate is encoded into equal valued amounts using a common step value. A remainder amount is also formulated to account for any remainders. Multiplying the equal valued amounts that are scaled by a common base value and then adding it all up along with the remainder amount results in a value which is at worst, within 0.2% of the original bit error rate value.

Abstract: An automated method of detecting, and provisioning connections between interconnected nodes in a consolidated network element involves sending messages between the nodes. The messages are inserted into data frames sent from respective transmit ports through inter-node links, to respective receive ports. The messages contain information used to provision the receive ports at which they are received, and information for identifying equipment that generated, transmitted, and conveyed the message, respectively, so that the connectivity of the interconnected nodes can be verified.

Abstract: It is proposed that currently unused portions of transport overhead in frames sent on a high-speed outgoing channel be used to carry error count information from each of four low-speed input channels. At a 4:1 combiner, error monitoring bytes are extracted from transport overhead of frames received on each of the four input channels. Error counts are determined and accumulated for each input channel before being passed to a transport overhead generator for the outgoing channel, where they are inserted as bit patterns in unused portions of the transport overhead. At a receiving demultiplexer, the error counts are extracted from the transport overhead of incoming frames. The extracted error counts are then used to alter the error monitoring bytes included in the transport overhead of frames sent on each of four outgoing channels such that, at the far end of those outgoing channels, a correct number of errors for the three part path may be determined.