Patent ID: 6836486
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
A method of switching a TU-3 data structure contained in an AU-4 data structure, the TU-3 data structure including a TU-3 pointer, the AU-4 data structure including an AU-4 pointer and two pointer locations comprising concatenation indicators, the method comprising:converting the AU-4 data structure into three AU-3 type data structures each having a respective AU-3 pointer; switching at least one of said AU-3 type data structures using a high order data switching apparatus; associating said at least one switched AU-3 type data structure with two further AU-3 type data structures; and converting said associated AU-3 type data structures into an AU-4 data structure, wherein said at least one AU-3 type data structure contains said TU-3 data structure associated with an AU-3 pointer, and the method further includes: pointer processing said TU-3 pointer and said AU-3 pointers so that said AU-3 pointers are set to a common fixed value, and wherein the conversion of said associated AU-3 type data structures is performed by replacing said AU-3 pointers with a single AU-4 pointer and two concatenation indicators.