Multi-service transport apparatus for integrated transport networks

Abstract

A multi-service transport apparatus for integrated transport networks is described. The apparatus comprises an electrical matrix, termination function means handling signals incoming at said apparatus input, a plurality of termination function means interfacing different layers, and adaptation function means. The termination function means handling incoming signals are implemented in input/output port devices; the termination function means interfacing different layers and said adaptation function means are implemented in adapter devices. According to the present invention, the matrix performs exclusively the switching of the incoming signals that are already terminated and adapted by said input/output port devices and by said adapter devices and it is transparent with respect to the signal format.

1 . A multi-service apparatus (P) for an integrated transport network which comprises a plurality of signal layers, said apparatus (P) comprising an electrical matrix (M), termination function means ( 60 ′) handling signals incoming at apparatus inputs, a plurality of termination function means ( 60 ) interfacing different layers, and adaptation function means ( 61 ), wherein said termination function means ( 60 ′) handling incoming signals are implemented in input/output port devices (PD), further wherein said termination function means ( 60 ) interfacing different layers and said adaptation function means ( 61 ) are implemented in adapter devices (AD), further wherein said matrix (M) performs exclusively the switching of the incoming signals that are already terminated and adapted by said input/output port devices (PD) and by said adapter devices (AD) and it is transparent with respect to signal format.  
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a separate adapter device (AD) is provided for at least one pair of termination and adaptation function means ( 60 ,  61 ) between adjacent layers.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said adjacent layers are selected from the group consisting of: Ethernet layer (L 2 )—Multi Protocol Label Switching layer (MPLS); Multi Protocol Label Switching layer (MPLS)—Resilient Packet Ring layer (RPR); Resilient Packet Ring layer (RPR)—SDH Lower Order layer (LPC); SDH Lower Order layer (LPC)—SDH Higher Order layer (HPC); and SDH Higher Order layer (HPC)—Optical Data Unit layer (ODU).  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a separate adapter device (AD) is provided for at least one pair of termination and adaptation function means ( 60 ,  61 ) between non adjacent layers.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said non adjacent layers are selected from the group consisting of: Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) layer—SDH Higher Order (HPC) layer; Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) layer—Optical Data Unit layer (ODU); Resilient Packet Ring layer (RPR)—SDH Higher Order (HPC) layer; and Resilient Packet Ring layer (RPR)—Optical Data Unit layer (ODU).  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a separate adapter device (AD) is provided for at least one pair of termination and adaptation function means ( 60 ,  61 ) between adjacent layers and wherein a separate adapter device (AD) is provided for at least one pair of termination and adaptation function means ( 60 ,  61 ) between non adjacent layers.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said input/output port devices (PD) comprises packet termination function means (Pkt proc, Traffic mng).  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein it further comprises a first backpanel driver (BKP 1 ) for transmitting terminated packet signals to said matrix (M) for performing packet layer switching.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein it further comprises a selector (SEL), said selector (SEL) receives packet signals and outputs said received packet signals either to said packet termination function means (Pkt proc, Traffic mng) or to a plug-in module (AD 1 ) which is apt to adapt (L 2  so-sk) said packet signals into time division multiplex signals and terminate said packet signals on time division multiplex layer.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said plug-in module (AD 1 ) comprises: Lower Order Path Termination means (LPT so-sk), Higher Order Path Termination means (HPT so-sk); and Optical Data Unit termination means (ODU so-sk).  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said first backpanel driver (BKP 1 ) transmits signals from said plug-in module (AD 1 ) to said matrix (M) for performing time division multiplex layer switching.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said packet termination function means (Pkt proc, Traffic mng), said selector (SEL) and said plug-in module (AD 1 ) are arranged on a first board (L 2  board).  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said input/output port devices (PD) comprises TDM termination function means (TTF sk-so) and processing means (HVC).  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein it further comprises a second backpanel driver (BKP 3 ) for transmitting said terminated/processed TDM signals to said matrix (M) for performing TDM layer switching.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said TDM termination function means (TTF sk-so) and said processing means (HVC) are arranged on a second board (SDH board).  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it further comprises a Higher Order Adaptation board (AD 2 ) receiving Lower Order TDM signals and outputting higher order TDM signals, said Higher Order Adaptation board (AD 2 ) in turn comprising an adapter device comprising adaptation function means (HPA sk-so) and termination function means (HPT so-sk).  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrical matrix (M) has a total switching capacity which could be shared by different layer signals.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it further comprises an optical switch device (MO) transparent with respect to incoming optical signal format.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said optical switch device (MO) has a total optical switching capacity which could be shared by different layer signals.  
   
   
       20 . An integrated transport network comprising one or more multi-service apparatuses (P) according to  claim 1.