Method and apparatus for errorless path protection and rearrangement

摘要

An apparatus and a method for cross connect matrices includes originating, center and terminating stages in both a main portion and a back-up portion that allows center stages to be switched without causing a framing error. The signal from the main portion is transmitted through both the back-up and main portions of the cross connect matrices such that a terminating line card receives a frame aligned signal from the main and back portions. The terminating line card then switches its output to be the signal produced by the back-up portion with no framing error. In the main portion, the center stage may be switched. After the center stage is switched, the terminating line card can switch again to output the signal from the main portion.