Patent ID: 7797464

Claim:
A network system for transmitting a signal having a framing protocol comprising: a common card and a plurality of line cards across a backplane having a plurality of lines in parallel connecting the common card and the plurality of lines cards in parallel communication, said framing protocol allowing each of said plurality of lines cards to be optimally configured and including: (a) a super frame for transmission between the common card and the plurality of line cards; (b) said super frame having at least one control frame, said control frame including a global parameters field and a line card field, said global parameters field including configuration information to configure one or more aspects of each of said plurality of line cards in the same manner, said line card field including configuration information to individually configure one or more aspects of each of said plurality of line cards to allow each of said plurality of line cards to operate optimally wherein said framing protocol is not transmitted outside the network electronic equipment shelf and is transparent to equipment connected to the network electronic equipment shelf.