Patent ID: 6826200
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
A method of preserving error counts for a plurality of tributary signals into a transparent multiplexer/demultiplexer (TMUX), said tributary signals being transparently transported over a high data rate span, the method comprising:at a first end of said span; a1) detecting a raw error count for each incoming tributary signal; b1) encoding said raw error count into an encoded error count; c1) inserting said encoded error count in specific unused bytes of successive TMUX messages for transport to a second end of said span; at the second end; a2) extracting said encoded error count from specific unused bytes of successively received TMUX messages transported from the first end; b2) decoding said encoded error count into the raw error count, c2) adjusting portions of the tributary signal received from the first end such that said tributary signal has an error count substantially equal to said raw error count; wherein step c1 includes inserting said encoded error count across a maximum of 10 successive TMUX messages, said encoded error count occupying one byte in each of the TMUX messages, and wherein if said raw error count is less than 1261, step b1 is accomplished by encoding in binary said raw error count into one remainder portion and a maximum of 9 equally valued portions such that a sum total of all the portions is equal to said raw error count.