Patent ID: 7379482

Claim:
A SDH/SONET telecommunication network element provided with a plurality of interfaces for managing first SDH/SONET flows, wherein the network element comprises: a) a plurality of first layer ports for managing second SDH/SONET flows, said first layer ports are individually programmable with respect to a hierarchical structure of the managed flows, and b) a switching system, coupled to the plurality of interfaces and to the first layer ports, which implements switching of virtual containers between the SDH/SONET flows, wherein said switching system is programmable with respect to implemented switching; wherein said switching system comprises: a matrix which switches SDH/SONET signals; and a first inner connection which couples the matrix to the first layer ports, wherein the matrix comprises first switching means which receives virtual containers for said second SDH/SONET flows, to generate a first inner signal comprising a frame structure which is analogue to a structure of a SDH/SONET frame, multiplexes said received virtual containers, and transmits said first inner signal onto said first inner connection, and wherein said matrix is programmable, with respect to the virtual containers, for insertion into said second SDH/SONET flows.