Patent ID: 7013348

Claim:
An apparatus for switching data frames comprising payload data arranged in accordance with a normal frame structure that includes high order data structures and low order data structures, the apparatus comprising a first switching component for switching high order data structures; a second switching component subtended from said first switching component in order to receive data frames from said first switching component, to switch low order data structures contained in received data frames, and to output data frames comprising switched low order data structures to said first switching component; and adaptation apparatus for adapting each data frame received by the apparatus to a reference timing signal, wherein the adaptation apparatus is arranged to advance the payload data of a received and adapted data frame with respect to the normal frame structure of the received and adapted data frame, and wherein the second switching component, during receipt of a data frame in respect of which the payload data has been so advanced, is arranged to generate an output data frame comprising said advanced payload data arranged in said normal frame structure, and being advanced with respect to said received and adapted data frame.