METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CLIENT LAYER CROSS-CONNECT FUNCTIONALITY IN A CROSS-CONNECT OR ADM

摘要

An apparatus and method is described for the integrated management of Clie nt Layer Cross-Connect functionality in an Add-Drop Multiplexer or in a Cros s- Connect. The present invention provides for replacing at least one of the I/ O ports present in the current apparatuses by a board having a matrix with Client Layer Cross-Connect functionality, such functionality comprising the Server Lay er termination and all the functionalities connected to the Client Layer, in addition to the Client Cross-Connect functionality. The apparatus of the invention fully complies with the related ITU and ETSI Recommendations since the access to t he ATM matrix is performed through SDH/SONET or PDH standard interfaces. T he apparatus is easily upgradable in field.