Patent ID: 6914941
Filing Date: 2005-07-05
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
1. A method of increasing bandwidth utilization of a transmission channel having a first bandwidth capacity and operative at a first transmission rate comprising the steps of: providing at least two input bit streams each having a transmission rate less than that of said first transmission rate wherein at least one of said at least two input bit streams has a plurality of overhead bits associated therewith; dividing said at least two input bit streams into a plurality of sub-streams, each having bandwidth lower than said first bandwidth capacity, wherein the difference between the first bandwidth capacity and a bandwidth capacity of each of the at least two input bit streams is at least equal to the bandwidth of one of the plurality of sub-streams; selecting a group of sub-streams out of said plurality of sub-streams, which group has a combined bandwidth just lower than said first bandwidth capacity; and wherein said group comprises at least one sub-stream which comprises at least some of said plurality of overhead bits; carrying said selected group of sub-streams over said transmission channel; and assembling said selected group of sub-streams into an output bit stream.