Device for multiplexing N plesiochronous digital trains

Claim 1

Device for multiplexing n incident quasisynchronous digital trains Tl to Tn having individual pulse rates Rl to Rn respectively into a more rapid digital train sent out at a pulse rate R and articulated in successive frames each including, at determined locations, at the most one justification bit per incident train, and systematic filling bits comprising an identification character and at least one set of n justification indicator bits for the n incident trains respectively, comprising: n channel elements for receiving the n incident trains respectively, and a multiplexing element including a multiplexing circuit for sending out the rapid train, and first means for generating, from the said pulse rate R, a clock signal HL sent out at a pulse rate R' equal to R/n and having "holes" at the locations corresponding to the systematic filling bits, a frame synchronizing signal S formed by pulses occuring within the time intervals corresponding to the locations of said identification characters in said successive frames, and a justification location signal defining the locations allocated in said successive frames for the justification bits, each of said channel elements, which receives an incident train Ti (i = 1, . . . , n), including second means connected to receive the clock signal HL and generating, under the control of a control signal applied thereto, additional "holes" in said clock signal HL, in the locations corresponding to the justifications bits, said circuit sending out a clock signal HLi, buffer means receiving said train Ti, controlled for load by a clock signal having the pulse rate Ri and for unload by said clock signal HLi, and sending out a digital train T"i, a phase comparator for comparing the phase of said clock signal HLi and the phase of said clock signal at the pulse rate Ri, third means connected to the output of said phase comparator and connected to receive said signal S, for generating a signal representing the result of the phase comparison at each pulse of said signal S, fourth means controlled by said third means for inserting in the outgoing train T"i of said buffer means, within the duration of each pulse of said signal S, a justification request signal which is a function of said signal representing the result of the phase comparison, the digital train emerging from the said fourth means being sent to the multiplexing circuit, said multiplexing element further including fifth means for reading each of the n justification request signals, the fifth means controlling the said multiplexing circuit for the inserting of the justification indicator bits in the rapid train, and sixth means for generating from the said justification location signal and as a function of the result of the said reading, n justification permission signals for the said n incident trains respectively, each of said n justification permission signals being sent to the corresponding channel element wherein this justification permission signal is applied for controlling said second means.