Synchronization of transparent TDM superchannels

摘要

Transparent Time Division Multiplexer (TDM) Superchannels comprising multiple time slots assigned to a single logical channel are synchronized between transmitter and receiver. For a given time slot in an idle logical channel (286), the transmitter only starts transmitting output if this is the first time slot assigned to the logical channel (288) and output is available for the logical channel (290). Starting to transmit output is postponed (289) if this is not the first time slot assigned to the logical channel. Correspondingly, the receiver only expects new data blocks to start in the first time slot assigned to the logical channel.