MULTIPLEXING IN A PDH TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

摘要

The invention relates to a multiplexing method used in a PDH network. Standard PCM signals are received in the network element, at least some of which are multiplexed on a time-division basis into the same outbound transmission frame, the capacity of the payload portion of the frame substantially corresponding to the capacity required by N PCM signals. In order that ATM cells may be transferred more advantageously than heretofore through an existing PDH network, the multiplexing is implemented as configurable in such a way that the total capacity of the payload portion can be divided between at least two parts of variable capacity in such a way that each part can be allocated a desired portion of the total capacity of the payload portion in accordance with the current transmission requirement. A part of the payload depending on the desired capacity is allocated to at least one traffic source from a group in which a number of PCM signals constitutes a first traffic source and a number of packet data streams constitutes a second traffic source. The invention is specifically intended for transferring ATM traffic through a PDH network.