Abstract: Provided is a device and method for controlling switchover of a broadcasting channel in a digital multimedia broadcasting receiver. The device includes a first demultiplexing unit for firstly buffering transport stream packets, searching the buffered transport stream packets for a PAT (program association table), a PMT (program map table), and an intra frame, and obtaining program information on the broadcasting channel to be switched over; and a second demultiplexing unit for secondly buffering the transport stream packets and, on the basis of the obtained program information, searching the secondly buffered transport stream packets for an audio or video transport stream packet of the corresponding broadcasting channel, and performing audio or video demultiplexing for the searched audio or video transport stream packet.

Abstract: A transport protocol that achieves improved performance in an environment where paths are lossy and a plurality of paths are employed to transfer data, essentially in parallel, from a source to a destination. The protocol is implemented with the aid of an aggregate flow manager (AFM) at the source that considers and controls the data flow through the plurality of paths. With some preselected regularity the AFM determines a number of packets to be included in a Forward Error Correction (FEC) block of packets, creates the block, and transmits the segments of the block over the plurality of paths. As necessary, the destination sends information to the source of what additional information needs to be sent. This additional information might be reactive error correcting (RFEC) packets, or a retransmission of the missed packets.

Abstract: The invention provides for systems, methods, and a transport re-encapsulator/tagger for delivering streaming media to customer premises equipment. A digital streaming media system broadcasts streaming media to provider networks which use middleware which has certain requirements for the transport encapsulation and tagging of headers of the streaming media. The invention provides for re-encapsulating/tagging of media broadcasts having one type of transport encapsulation/tagging into a type of transport encapsulation/tagging required by the middleware.

Abstract: In a demultiplexer, a finite search length and a finite jump length are set in a packet header detection section. The packet header detection section skips from a transfer start position of a multiplexed stream according to the set jump length and then searches for a start code included in a packet header which is to be detected through a range designated by the search length. A payload separation section separates payloads included in the multiplexed stream based on detection results of the packet header detection section.

Abstract: When a data signal of a first channel is an RZ signal having a pulse period T1 and a logic “1” pulse width m, a data signal of a second channel is an RZ signal having a pulse period T2 and a logic “1” pulse width n and the relation n < m is satisfied, a multiplexed signal D obtained by time-division multiplexing the data signals of two channels is input. A pulse signal with a pulse width k satisfying n < k < min(m, T2) is generated at timing of a leading edge of the data signal of each channel. When the multiplexed signal D is judged as logic “1” at timing of a trailing edge of the pulse signal, the data signal of the first channel is output. Similarly, when the multiplexed signal D is judged as logic “0”, the data signal of the second channel is output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of bit demultiplexing for a rate 1/3 convolutional encoder in a wireless communication system, the method comprising, receiving bits from the rate-1/3 convolutional encoder, demultiplexing the received bits by distributing the bits sequentially into 3 sequences denoted as V0, V1 and V2 such that the first bit is going to the V0 sequence, the second bit is going to the V1 sequence and the third bit is going to the V2 sequence and ordering the sequences such that V0 is the first sequence, V1 is the second sequence and V2 is the third sequence.

Abstract: Serializer circuitry for high-speed serial data transmitter circuitry on a programmable logic device (“PLD”) or the like includes circuitry for converting parallel data having any of several data widths to serial data. The circuitry can also operate at any frequency in a wide range of frequencies, and can make use of reference clock signals having any of several relationships to the parallel data rate and/or the serial data rate. The circuitry is configurable/re-configurable in various respects, at least some of which configuration/re-configuration can be dynamically controlled (i.e., during user-mode operation of the PLD).

Abstract: A digital signal receiver for a high-bitrate digital signal has a serial signal input (20, 20?) and a number of N parallel digital signal outputs (26) with N>1. The receiver contains at least N+1 digital sampling channels (31-35), a Q-monitor (37, 38) for comparing the output signal of at least two of the sampling channels (31-35), and a switch fabric (36) for controllably connecting N of the sampling channels (31-35) to the outputs (26) and at least two of the sampling channels (31-35) to the Q-monitor (37, 38). This allows to use N of the sampling channels to provide the N output signals while at the same time, the at least one remaining sampling channel can be used by the Q-monitor to scan an eye diagram.

Abstract: The present invention relates a node device cross-connected to a STM transmission system and a maintenance and operation support device connected to the node device. The object of the present invention is to releasing a desired transmission section or link efficiently. Therefore, the node device according to the preset invention includes control section individually selecting a link provided to for a path in the communication devices accommodated into the local and remote stations; and cross-connection section providing a path through the selected link, wherein the control section selects an auxiliary link based on a system configuration when identifiers of all paths to be replaced by the substitute path are given.

Abstract: Systems and methods for refining the determination of the time of arrival (TOA) of given data. A portion of packet data is designated to be used as a pseudo TOA sequence. The packet information is modulated using, e.g., BPSK, and thereafter spread with a chipping stream known at both source and destination radios. The resulting stream includes a TOA reference pattern. On the receive side (destination radio), receive samples are despread and demodulated. The despread data is then XOR'ed with the chipping stream to re-create the TOA reference pattern. The re-created TOA reference pattern and original receive samples (previously stored) are passed through a correlator to obtain a correlation profile, which is then used for curve fitting/interpolation to accurately determine the TOA of the given received sample. Embodiments may be used in conjunction with a radio ranging system.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing a white board service in a mobile communication system are provided, wherein a bit stream received from a counterpart node is demuxed into data of a logic channel and data of a control channel using a demuxing protocol. The demuxed data is decoded for output.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may provide an arbiter, a demultiplexer, and a digital receiver. An exemplary embodiment of the demultiplexer may include packet identifier filters, first-in first-out memories, an arbiter, and a conditional access buffer. Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for demultiplexing multiplexed broadcasting signals.

Abstract: A transport stream (TS) demultiplexer has a TS input switch unit and an output switch unit, whereby inputs and outputs can be selected as desired, external output can be easily changed by changing selected information of the TS input switch unit and the output switch unit, without changing inputs. Therefore, the TS demultiplexer receives a plurality of TSs such as MPEG-2 TSs and DSS TSs, and can selectively demultiplex the TSs, and particularly, the TS demultiplexer can store the TSs in a storage medium such as a hard disc drive, or it can easily transmit the TS data over an IEEE1394 bus or a PCI bus.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward techniques for Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) upstream label assignment for the Resource Reservation Protocol with Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE). The techniques include extensions to the RSVP-TE that enable distribution of upstream assigned labels in Path messages from an upstream router to two or more downstream routers of tunnel established over a network. The tunnel may comprise a RSVP-TE P2MP Label Switched Path (LSP) or an Internet Protocol (IP) multicast tunnel. The techniques also include extensions to the RSVP-TE that enable a router to advertise upstream label assignment capability to neighboring routers in the network. The MPLS upstream label assignment using RSVP-TE described herein enables a branch router to avoid traffic replication on a Local Area Network (LAN) for RSVP-TE P2MP LSPs.

Abstract: Port multiplexing apparatus and methods are disclosed. Time slots in a time division multiplexing (TDM) scheme are allocated to transfer signals such as Ethernet or Fiber Channel packets associated with ports of a signal processing device. Signals associated with multiple ports are transferred between those ports and another signal processing device over a single logical link in accordance with the time slot allocation. An indication of the time slot allocation may also be transferred on the link, illustratively by replacing protocol overhead traffic to be transmitted on the link with allocation information. At a receiver, the replaced protocol overhead traffic may be substituted back into a received multiplexed signal. A port multiplexing apparatus may be controllable to operate in a multiplexing mode or in a non-multiplexing mode. Aspects of the invention may also be embodied in other forms, such as in a data structure stored on a machine-readable medium.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for the combining and filtering of serial data from multiple serial data sources. At least one of the serial data sources frames serial data into packets. The serial data source that frames serial data drives a serial port in an exclusive manner. Another serial data source also provides data to the serial port. As the serial data comes from the sources, the serial port generates a stream of serial data that is sent to a serial stream filter. The serial stream filter extracts the packet from other serial data and selectively forwards the packet and the other serial data to one or more recipients.

Abstract: A stream data processing apparatus includes a demultiplexing portion configured to demultiplex multiplexed stream data, to which a PCR is added, into a plurality of pieces of stream data to which a PTS is added, a system time measuring portion configured to measure a system time according to a PCR, a synchronous control portion configured to determine continuity of a reference time according to a PCR and system time information (SYC), to determine continuity of a reproduction time according to a PTS and an STC, and to output synchronous control information according to results of these determinations, a storage portion configured to store stream data, a decoding portion configured to decode stream data stored in the storage portion, an output portion configured to output decoded data, and a decoded data output control portion configured to control a mode of an operation of handling decoded data by the output portion, according to the synchronous control information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a display device using a demultiplexer. The demultiplexer sequentially samples the data current that is time-divided and applied by a data driver, and holds it to the data lines. Since the demultiplexer is to sample the data currents corresponding to N data lines during one horizontal period when performing 1:N demultiplexing, the data current corresponding to one data line is sampled during the 1/N horizontal period. In the present invention, a signal line coupled between the demultiplexer and the data driver is precharged with the current before coupling a precharge circuit to a sample/hold circuit and sampling the data current. The precharge current is M times the data current where M is a real number greater than 1.

Abstract: A method for multiplexing digital data, wherein a packet of digital data is simultaneously sent from front to rear and from rear to front. Additionally, a method for multiplexing digital data, wherein a packet of digital data is simultaneously sent from the beginning of the packet towards the end and from the end towards the beginning. Additionally, a method for multiplexing digital data, wherein simultaneously a packet of digital data is sent and the same packet is sent backwards.

Abstract: A transmitting device includes a first buffer for temporarily storing audio data, a second buffer for temporarily storing video data, a multiplexing unit for outputting audio data coming from the first buffer and video data coming from the second buffer onto a single signal channel, and a transmission buffer monitoring unit for monitoring the amount of first buffered data stored in the first buffer and, if the amount of the first buffered data exceeds a first threshold, instructing the second buffer to discard video data.

Abstract: A receive virtual concatenation processor (processor) is adapted to receive time-slot interleaved data carried over SONET/SDH frames. The processor first generates per time-slot data and subsequently generates per channel data. The processor supports virtual concatenation, contiguous concatenation as well as mixed concatenation in which some channels are contiguously concatenated and others are virtually concatenated. The processor supports virtual concatenation at both STS-1 and STS-3c granularities and with arbitrary differential delay among constituent time-slots. The processor supports contiguous concatenation with any multiple of STS-3c granularity. The processor is highly scalable to support multiple channels and different frame sizes such as STS-12, STS-48, STS-192, etc.

Abstract: A method of processing a digital television (DTV) signal in a DTV receiver, the method includes receiving a digital television signal including video streams and an event information table carrying information for events on predefined virtual channels; parsing the event information table, the parsed event information table comprising bit rate information defining one or more bit rates associated with video streams in the digital television signal; and processing the video streams according to the parsed bit rate information.

Abstract: A method of generating a plurality of data streams using a data protocol is disclosed. The method comprises steps of receiving an input data stream comprising a periodic sequence of data words, wherein each the data word of the input data stream is associated with a data stream of a plurality of data streams. The data words of the input data stream are sequentially processed by a data control circuit. Finally, data output by the data control circuit is demultiplexed to generate a plurality of output data streams. A circuit for generating a plurality of data streams using a data protocol is also disclosed.

Abstract: A signaling method for signal division information is disclosed. The signaling method divides a signal into several signals, and effectively represents division information of the divided signals. The present invention provides the method signaling for signaling signal division information comprising: assigning number of lower nodes equal to the number of divisions to a lower layer if a node of an upper layer is represented by a division identifier (ID); and un-assigning any lower node to the lower layer if the node of the upper layer is represented by a non-division identifier (ID), wherein the signal division information includes the division ID and the non-division ID indicating the presence or absence of a signal division at a node of a layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sequencing determines possible next states for respective possible previous states based upon resources, selects one of the possible next states as an actual next state based upon an actual previous state, and communicates the actual next state as the actual previous state.

Abstract: A device includes multiple separate transmission channel facilities including first and second transmission channel facilities each having a standard network interface unit configured to transmit bundling data. The device includes a facility configured to bundle transmission channel facilities and to transmit a sub-stream of a data stream to be transmitted via transmission channels to be bundled as a stream of bundling data via the standard network interface units between the first transmission channel facility and the second transmission channel facility.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing current demand variations in large fanout trees. The fanout tree is split into at least 2 sub-groups, each preferably with substantially equal parasitic capacitance. Data is then scrambled according to a scrambling sequence function to provide scrambled data having a constant number of bits that are toggled with respect to time, such as when observed in pairs of sub-groups. Functionally, an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes 3 blocks: a scrambler, egress logic, and a de-scrambler. The egress logic is simply a block of storage that can reorder the bytes received from the scrambler. The de-scrambler de-scrambles the retransmitted data based on the scrambling sequence function. Embodiments of the present invention can be applied to any system where data must fanout from a single source to many destinations, such as switches.

Abstract: A decoding device and a decoding method in a digital broadcast receiver are provided, in which received packet data is demultiplexed into video data and audio data, and decoding control signals of the respective data are extracted. An Estimated Program Clock Reference (EPCR) is generated from the decoding control signal of the audio data, and the EPCR is compared with the decoding control signal of the video data to generate a video decoding control signal. The demultiplexed video data is decoded in synchronous with the video decoding control signal, and then the decoded video data is outputted. The demultiplexed audio data is decoded in synchronous with the audio decoding control signal, and then the decoded audio data is outputted. Finally, the decoded video data and the decoded audio data are displayed and reproduced.

Abstract: In a link aggregation group aggregating a number of ports of a network element, the network element may distribute frames among the ports using a distribution function that operates according to information in the received frames. The network element may apply one of several different distribution functions and, at appropriate times, change the selected distribution function to effect a different distribution of frames among the ports.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiplexing device comprising a data compressor. The compressed data block leaving said compressor occupies a particular bandwidth. According to the invention, a bandwidth prediction unit calculates said bandwidth and deduces from it the available bandwidth for conveyance in a time space dedicated to Internet traffic. The invention also relates to a multiplexing device and a multiplexing/demultiplexing system. Particular application in a satellite telecommunication system.

Abstract: Data to be transmitted via a MIMO communication system having NT transmission paths is divided into M multiple streams and each stream is transmitted from one of the transmission paths of the MIMO system at a rate that is smaller than the rate the transmission path is capable of transmitting. The MIMO communication system is typically adapted to operate in conformity with a known standard, such as IEEE 802.11, and thus has electrical properties conforming to such standards. For example, if the communication system includes two transmission paths each adapted to transfer data at the rate of 48 Mbps per channel, the communication system is operated at a slower bit rate of, for example, 18 Mbps per channel to attain a range that is longer than that of a single spatial transmitter having an equivalent data rate of 36 Mbps.

Abstract: High speed, low power all CMOS thermometer-to-binary demultiplexer. A received signal undergoes digital sampling (e.g., as within an ADC) to generate a signal that subsequently undergoes encoding (e.g., transformation from thermometer encoded data to binary encoded data) and de-multiplexing. Two separate de-multiplexing stages are employed when performing combined encoding and de-multiplexing. In addition, the individual DEMUXs of the two stages are clocked using a distributed clock generation architecture, such that, reset and time-interleaving is controlled on the ADC clock generator. The thermometer-to-binary encoders are placed very close to the input stage which facilitates very fast data rates while consuming relatively lower power.

Abstract: A wireless communications system includes a space-based component (SBC) and an ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) configured to communicate with radioterminals using a common satellite service link frequency band and respective first and second different sets of channel separation codes. The first and second sets of channel separation codes may include, for example, respective sets of scrambling codes, respective sets of frequency assignment codes, respective sets of channel assignment codes, respective sets of sub-channel assignment codes and/or respective sets of spreading codes.

Abstract: A high speed communications interface divides data into a plurality of lanes, each lane encoded with clocking information, serialized, and sent to an interface. During cycles when there is no available data to send, IDLE_EVEN and IDLE_ODD cells are sent on alternating cycles. Data is transmitted by sending a header which spans all lanes and includes a START symbol. The final data transaction includes a Frame Check Sequence (FCS) which operates over the entire header and data. The packet is terminated by an END symbol, which is sent after the final data, and the remainder of the lanes are padded with IDLE_EVEN, IDLE_ODD, IDLE_EVEN_BUSY, or IDLE_ODD_BUSY cycles. The interface has a variable clock rate.

Abstract: A compressively-encoding-resultant video signal resulting from compressively encoding a video signal, a first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal resulting from compressively encoding a first audio signal having a synchronized relation with the video signal, a reference clock information signal relating to synchronization between the compressively-encoding-resultant video signal and the first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal, and an indication timing information signal designating an indication timing of the video signal are multiplexed to get an AV multiplexing-resultant signal. A second audio signal is compressively encoded to get a second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal. A sound-production-timing information signal is added to the second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal to get a substitution playback audio signal.

Abstract: When a data signal of a first channel is an RZ signal having a pulse period T1 and a logic “1” pulse width m, a data signal of a second channel is an RZ signal having a pulse period T2 and a logic “1” pulse width n and the relation n<m is satisfied, a multiplexed signal D obtained by time-division multiplexing the data signals of two channels is input. A pulse signal with a pulse width k satisfying n<k<min(m, T2) is generated at timing of a leading edge of the data signal of each channel. When the multiplexed signal D is judged as logic “1” at timing of a trailing edge of the pulse signal, the data signal of the first channel is output. Similarly, when the multiplexed signal D is judged as logic “O”, the data signal of the second channel is output.

Abstract: An organic light emitting display capable of reducing the manufacturing cost and displaying images with uniform brightness. The organic light emitting display includes: a data driver for supplying a plurality of data signals to a plurality of first data lines, respectively; an image display portion having a plurality of second data lines, a plurality of scan lines, and a plurality of pixels; and a demultiplexer having a plurality of data transistors arranged in the respective first data lines to supply the plurality of data signals supplied to the first data lines to the plurality of second data lines, and a plurality of capacitors connected between respective gate terminals of the plurality of data transistors and the second data lines.

Abstract: Systems and methods for de-combining a single combined data stream into a plurality of original data streams, where each original data stream has its own timing information, and passing respective original data steams to, e.g., one or more DVB-T modulators for broadcast into, e.g., a single frequency network. The original data streams and the single combined data stream may be, e.g., MPEG-compliant data streams.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus, having an overhead branching unit configured to branch a signal data into an overhead and signal data; a control unit configured to retain the overhead; a time slot interchange unit configured to perform time slot interchange on the signal data; and an overhead insertion unit configured to insert the signal data and the overhead output from the time slot interchange unit and outputting as signal data.

Abstract: A channel inverse multiplexer/multiplexer (IMUX/MUX) (14a) of a MAC sublayer (14) of a UTRAN RNC (11) for providing to a UE (18) traffic (communication signals including in general both control and user data) at a higher rate than the UE can accept over a single channel. The channel IMUX/MUX performs inverse multiplexing of traffic for downlink, and multiplexing of traffic on uplink, and does so in a way that is transparent to all other layers/entities of the UTRAN (11-17) and to the UE (18).

Abstract: This invention describes a novel digital broadcast modulation scheme to provide wide area coverage at a high bit rate from a single transmitter. The scheme creates an additional dimension within which to create transmission channels besides those of time, code, direction and frequency. Advantages of scheme include lower power to deliver the same total bit rate to an area, wider coverage using the same power, and closer spacing of transmitters sharing the same frequencies. It is particularly well suited to supporting broadcast of data to a large population of users.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for the generation of television channels and which allows the generation of the same by the processing and selection of designated packets of data from multiple data transport streams, which each transport stream including numerous packets of data. In each transport stream the packet of data is identified by the allocations of a packet identification code (PID) and each is held in the transport packet which is transmitted as part of each transport stream. In accordance with the invention, and in order to prevent errors and inaccurate packet selection, a Transport Stream Identification Code (TSID) is allocated to each of the transport streams of data received. Typically the TSID is located in the transport packet for each transport stream of data. In the selection of a packet of data, the appropriate TSID is referred to identify the appropriate transport stream and the PID then referred to identify the packet of data from that transport stream.

Abstract: A separating device and method and a signal receiving device and method are presented. The separating device and method receive plural data streams and then separate and extract at least a portion of data from the received data streams. The signal receiving device and method receive plural data streams and then select, separate and extract at least a portion of the data from the data streams. Then the signal receiving device and method apply signal processing to the portion of the data that has been selected, separated and extracted.

Abstract: A clock recovery method and apparatus is provided. The high-order demultiplexing-demapping unit (102) demultiplexes and demaps the high-order OTN frame (101) into N low-order ODTUjk frames (103), and transmits the N low-order ODTUjk frames (103) to the low-order demapping unit (104); the low-order demapping unit (104) respectively demaps the N ODTUjk frames (103) into N ODUj frames (105), and writes the ODUj frames from memory unit 1 (106) to memory unit n (108) into memory unit n+1 (109) to memory unit 2n (111) by using the clock signal whose gaps are uniformly distributed; and the ODUj frame clock generating unit (113) adjusts the read out clock in memory unit n+1 (109) to memory unit 2n (111), i.e. ODUj frame clock (114), according to the data volume stored in memory unit n+1 (109) to memory unit 2n (111).

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for multiplexing Gigabit Ethernet frames and an apparatus for demultiplexing 10-Gigabit Ethernet frames. The apparatus for multiplexing Gigabit Ethernet frames includes at least one pre-processing unit, a multiplexing unit, an SDR/DDR conversion unit, and a control unit. The at least one pre-processing unit receives Gigabit Ethernet frames, converts the Gigabit Ethernet frames into 10-Gigabit Ethernet frames, and outputs the 10-Gigabit Ethernet frames. The multiplexing unit receives the 10-Gigabit Ethernet frames, time division multiplexes the 10-Gigabit Ethernet frames in frame units, and outputs the time division multiplexed 10-Gigabit Ethernet frames as first data. The SDR/DDR conversion unit, which converts the first data into second data having two 32-bit bus structures and outputs the second data. The control unit outputs a first control signal in response to an output request of the pre-processing unit.

Abstract: Managing a multicast conference call includes receiving signals at a local endpoint participating in a multicast conference call with remote endpoints. The signals include a local signal associated with the local endpoint and remote signals, where each remote signal is associated with a remote endpoint. Metric ratings are determined, where each metric rating reflects an importance of a signal. The metric ratings include a local metric rating corresponding to the local signal and remote metric ratings, where each remote metric rating corresponds to a remote signal. The local metric rating and the remote metric ratings are compared, and a subset of signals is selected according to the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for demultiplexing video signals that have been combined using a time division multiplexing approach. The system includes synchronizers, parsers, demultiplexers, and an input buffer. Each demultiplexer within the system includes a header detect module, a slot map module, a frame sync module and a packet accept module. The method includes the steps of receiving an input stream that contains data packets for more than one program channel that have been combined in which packet identification (PID) information is used and a time division multiplexing scheme, such as transport stream multiplexing format (TSMF) is used. The PID and slot location for each packet is analyzed. Based on the PID and slot location a packet is either accepted or rejected.

Abstract: A multiplexed audio data decoder apparatus is provided in which integration of an audio decoder is easy, and has a high flexibility when the number of the formats to be processed is increased or when the specification is changed. In an external ROM 60 there are accumulated a plurality of decoding program codes corresponding to respective plural methods for compressing and encoding. A controller means 50 transfers the decoding program code corresponding to the method for compressing and encoding after changing thereof, from the external ROM 60 to an internal RAM 25. A DSP 22 starts decoding processing by using the decoding program code which is transmitted into the internal RAM 25.

Abstract: An apparatus has a cross connection circuit, first switching sections located on the input side of the cross connection circuit to switch a presently-used transmission path and a reserve transmission path, and second switching sections located on the output side of the cross connection circuit to switch the presently-used transmission path and the reserve transmission path and comprises slot sections, first selecting section selectively connecting any one of the slot sections to the input side of the first switching section, second selecting section connecting the output side of the first switching section to the input side of the cross connection circuit, third selecting section selectively connecting the output side of the cross connection circuit to the input side of any of the second switching sections, and fourth selecting section connecting the output side of the second switching section to any one of the slot sections.

Abstract: An 1:n or m:n path protection mechanism is provided. Rather than defining an automatic protection protocol, use is made of the existing tandem connection monitoring function, tandem connection reverse defect indication, and tandem connection trail trace identifier. Upon detection of a failure on the working path segment, the occurrence of this failure is communicated to the far end node by inserting forced RDI into the tandem connection as long as the failure persists. In the case of more than one protected paths, the failed path is identified by means of the unique trail trace identifier received on the protection path. In the case of several protection paths, one network node is defined as slave node which has to follow the switch-over initiated by the master node and choose the same protection path as the master node. Preferably, a combination of two timers enables return from failure condition to normal operation.