Patent ID: 6047007
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method of transmitting signals comprising digitally coded data from a transmitting network element operating at a first bit-rate, over a telecommunications network path operating at a second, higher, bit-rate to a destination network element, the destination element being one of a plurality of receiving network elements, wherein a first group of the plurality of receiving network elements operate at the first bit-rate and a second group of the plurality of receiving elements operate at the a second bit-rate, the method comprising the steps of:determining, for an original data-carrying signal coded at the first bit-rate to be transmitted from the transmitting network element to a destination network element, whether the destination network element is one of the first group of receiving network elements or one of the second group of receiving network elements, and(a) when the destination network element is one of the first group, generating a signal having a bit transport rate corresponding to the second, higher bit-rate, comprising the original digitally coded data and additional null data andb) when the destination network element is one of the second group, generating a signal comprising data coded at the second bit-rate,and in either case transmitting the resulting signal.