SDH/ATM hybrid cross connect

摘要

A hybrid cross connect for use in a synchronous digital communications network includes an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch element 21, and ingress 22 and egress 23 means for interfacing the switch element with the synchronous network. The ingress interface 22 incorporates means for recovering data bytes from incoming synchronous frames, for assembling said bytes into ATM cells for presentation to the switch element and for providing each said ATM cell with source and destination addresses. The egress interface incorporates means for recovering the data bytes from the ATM cells and for assembling said bytes into synchronous frames. The arrangement extracts the payloads carried within the incoming STM's (Synchronous Transport Module) and distributes those payloads in a predetermined manner among the appropriate output STM's.