Method and system for improved sonet data communications channel

Abstract

Systems and methods for use in a synchronous network in which the line data communications channel and section data communications channel are combined to provide an increased bandwidth data communication channel. In one aspect of the invention, all of the bytes of the line data communications channel are combined with the bytes of the sections data communications channel to create a single data communications channel. In another aspect, some but not all of the line data communications channel bytes are moved to the sections data communications channel in order to create an increased capacity section data communications channel.

1 . A frame for carrying information over a communications channel, comprising: 
 a payload envelope; and    a transport overhead comprising, 
 section overhead, and  
 line overhead;  
   wherein the section overhead contains more space allocated to the section overhead for bits corresponding to a data communications channel than line space allocated to the line overhead.    
   
   
       2 . The frame of  1  wherein the line overhead has no data communications channel bits.  
   
   
       3 . The frame of  1  wherein the frame is a SONET frame.  
   
   
       4 . The frame of  1  wherein the frame is an SDH frame.  
   
   
       5 . A method for creating a frame comprising the steps of: 
 inserting a payload into the frame;    inserting an overhead into the frame, including the steps of 
 inserting data communications channel bits into the overhead wherein the number of data communications channel bit inserted into a section overhead and space allocated to the section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead and space allocated to the line overhead.  
   
   
   
       6 . The method of  5  wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into the line overhead is zero.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  5  wherein the frame is a SONET frame.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  5  wherein the frame is a SDH frame.  
   
   
       9 . A framer, comprising: 
 means for inserting into a frame a payload;    means for inserting into the frame a plurality of data communications channel bits,    wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead and space allocated to the section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead and space allocated to the line overhead.    
   
   
       10 . The framer of  claim 9  wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into the line overhead is zero.  
   
   
       11 . The framer of  claim 9  wherein the frame is a SONET frame.  
   
   
       12 . The framer of  claim 9  wherein the frame is a SDH frame.  
   
   
       13 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of line terminating equipment, comprising 
 means for inserting into a frame a payload,  
 means for inserting into the frame a plurality of data communications channel bits,  
   wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead and space allocated to the section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead and space allocated to the line overhead; and    a plurality of section terminating equipment, comprising 
 means for inserting into a frame a payload,  
 means for inserting into the frame a plurality of data communications channel bits,  
 wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead and space allocated to the section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead and space allocated to the line overhead.  
   
   
   
       14 . The network of  claim 13  wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into the line overhead is zero.  
   
   
       15 . The network of  claim 13  wherein the frame is a SONET frame.  
   
   
       16 . The network of  claim 13  wherein the frame is an SDH frame.  
   
   
       17 . The network of  claim 13  wherein one of the plurality of line terminating equipment is an add-drop multiplexer.  
   
   
       18 . The network of  claim 13  wherein one of the plurality of section terminating equipment is a regenerator.  
   
   
       19 . The network of  claim 13  wherein one of the plurality of line terminating equipment is a digital cross-connect.  
   
   
       20 . The network of  claim 13  wherein one of the plurality of line terminating equipment an ATM over SONET network element.  
   
   
       21 . A method for extracting overhead information from a frame, comprising the steps of: locating in the frame a plurality of data communications channel bits; 
 extracting a plurality of data communications channel bits from a section overhead without extracting data communications channel bits from a line overhead.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  21  wherein the frame is a SONET frame.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  21  wherein the frame is an SDH frame.  
   
   
       24 . A time slot interchange, comprising 
 means for locating a plurality of data communications channel bits in a frame;    means for extracting a plurality of data communications channel bits from a section overhead without extracting data communications channel bits from a line overhead.    
   
   
       25 . The time slot interchange of  claim 24  wherein the frame is a SONET frame.  
   
   
       26 . The time slot interchange of  claim 24  wherein the frame is an SDH frame.  
   
   
       27 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . A network element, comprising: 
 means for inserting into a frame a plurality of payload bits; and    means for inserting into the frame a plurality of data communications channel bits, wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead and space allocated to the section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead and space allocated to the line overhead.    
   
   
       32 . The network element of  claim 31  wherein the data communications channel bits inserted into the line overhead is zero.  
   
   
       33 . The network element of  claim 31  wherein the frame if a SONET frame.  
   
   
       34 . The network element of  claim 31  wherein the frame is an SDH frame.  
   
   
       35 . The network element of  claim 31  wherein the network element is an add-drop multiplexer.  
   
   
       36 . The network element of  claim 31  wherein the network element is a regenerator.  
   
   
       37 . The network element of  claim 31  wherein the network element is a digital cross-connect.  
   
   
       38 . The network element of  claim 31  wherein the network element is an ATM over SONET network element.  
   
   
       39 . A framer for constructing a frame having a section overhead and a line overhead, comprising: 
 a processor for inserting into a frame a payload and for inserting into the frame a plurality of data communications channel bits;    wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead and space allocated to the section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead and space allocated to the line overhead.    
   
   
       40 . A framer for constructing a frame having a section overhead and a line overhead, comprising; 
 a first processor for inserting into a frame a payload; and    a second processor for inserting into the frame a plurality of data communications channel bits;    wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead and space allocated to the section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead and space allocated to the line overhead.    
   
   
       41 . A network using a frame having a section overhead and a line overhead, comprising; 
 at least one line terminating equipment including a processor for inserting into a frame a payload and for inserting into the frame a plurality of data communications channel bits, wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead and space allocated to the section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead and space allocated to the line overhead; and    at least one section terminating equipment including a processor for inserting into a frame a payload and for inserting into the frame a plurality of data communications channel bits, wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead and space allocated to the section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead and space allocated to the line overhead.    
   
   
       42 . A network element for constructing a frame having a section overhead and a line overhead, comprising. 
 a processor for inserting into a frame a plurality of payload bits and for inserting into the frame a plurality of data communications channel bits, 
 wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead and space allocated to the section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead and space allocated to the line overhead.  
   
   
   
       43 . A network element for constructing a frame having a section overhead and a line overhead, comprising: 
 a first processor for inserting into a frame a plurality of payload bits; and    a second processor for inserting into the frame a plurality of data communications channel bits;    wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead and space allocated to the section overhead greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead and space allocated to the line overhead    
   
   
       44 . A method for adapting to dual modes in a communications channel comprising the steps of: 
 inserting into a frame a plurality of data communications channel bits, wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead;    inserting into a frame a plurality of data communications channel bits,    wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead;    selecting between the steps of inserting into a frame a plurality of data communications channel bits, wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead; and    inserting into a frame a plurality of data communications channel bits,    wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the frames are SONET frames.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the frames are SDH frames.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a section overhead is greater than the number of data communications channel bits inserted into a line overhead, wherein the number of data communication bits inserted is zero.