Patent ID: 6965737

Claim:
A system for transparently transporting data comprising: an ingress module configured to convert a first data stream to an second data stream, wherein the ingress module comprises an ingress buffer configured to store the first data stream, an ingress counter configured to count the bits of the first data stream which are stored in the ingress buffer, an ingress timer, and write logic coupled to the ingress counter and the ingress timer and configured to determine the data rate of the first data stream, wherein the write logic is further configured to periodically write the data rate of the first data stream into the ingress buffer; an egress module configured to receive the second data stream and to convert the second data stream to a third data stream, wherein the egress module is configured to reproduce the bit sequence and timing of the first data stream in the third data stream, wherein the egress module comprises an egress buffer configured to store the second data stream, a phase locked loop (PLL) configured to control the rate at which data is read out of the egress buffer to produce the third data stream, an egress counter configured to count the bits of the third data stream, timing logic coupled to the egress counter and the egress timer and configured to determine the data rate of the third data stream and to control the PLL to match the data rate of the third data stream to the data rate of the first data stream; and a transport medium coupled between the ingress module and the egress module and configured to convey the second data stream from the ingress module to the egress module.