Patent ID: 7400657

Claim:
A system for transporting a plurality of low-bit-rate data signals over a high-bit-rate data line comprising: a multiplexer configured to receive the plurality of low-bit-rate data signals, to map a payload of each low-bit-rate input data signal to a payload of a high-bit-rate data signal, to map overhead data of each low-bit-rate input data signal to unused overhead of the high-bit-rate data signal, and to map timing data for each low-bit-rate input data signal to unused overhead of the high-bit-rate data signal, wherein the timing data is to be generated at the multiplexer based on the bit rates of the low-bit-rate data signals and is to provide an indication of said bit rates, and wherein said timing data comprises a count of a number of bits received at said multiplexer in a given period of time; a transmission medium coupled to the multiplexer and configured to transport the high-bit-rate data signal; and a demultiplexer coupled to the transmission medium, wherein the demultiplexer is configured to extract the payload, overhead data and timing data corresponding to each low-bit-rate input data signal from the high-bit-rate data signal and to generate a plurality of low-bit-rate output data signals which are substantially identical to the corresponding low-bit-rate input data signals.