Patent ID: 7277459
Filing Date: 2007-10-02
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
1. A synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) network in which data is carried in a virtually concatenated information structure, the network comprising: tributary interfaces arranged and configured to process at least one first data signal received in a contiguously concatenated information structure and to convert it into the virtually concatenated information structure for transfer across the network, the virtually concatenated information structure comprising a plurality of virtual containers (VC-n) within a concatenated virtual information structure (VC-n-Xvc) in which the first data signal is distributed across the plurality of virtual containers; and conversion means for processing a path overhead (POH) of the first data signal and creating a new POH for each individual virtual container in the virtually concatenated information structure and using a part of the POH to indicate a sequence of frames in the virtually concatenated information structure, in which the integrity of the information in the POH of the first data signal is maintained.