Protected muldem with interchangeable circuits of different data rates

Claim 2

A high reliability digital multiplexer comprising in combination: a plurality of parallel data input groups; high speed transmitter means multiplexing said groups for high speed serial data transmission; transmission means for each group comprising one of a plurality of interchangeable transmitter means having different input rates and identical output rates such that each group has a selectable data input rate according to choice of interchangeable transmitter means and such that each group transmits an identical data rate to said high speed transmitter means; means for monitoring data paths through said group transmission means and high speed transmitter means, comprising means for comparing input data on a selected path at said data input groups with corresponding data from said high speed transmitter means to detect errors, said comparing means including means, responsive to the rate of the path input data, for conditioning it for said comparing and monitor control means, including means for setting up a path to be monitored, including selecting the path, determining the rate of the data in the selected path and supplying information to said comparing means to control timing of the comparing in dependence on said determined rate, and means for directing the monitoring of the selected path, including supervising operation of said comparing means and responding to said comparing to conduct a test of error rate; and standby data protective switching means, responsive to said monitoring means, for providing an alternate data path around said transmission means.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of said transmitter means is two, comprising low speed transmitter means and intermediate speed transmitter means, said low speed transmitter means multiplexing parallel low speed data from a plurality of channels in a respective group for serial transmission of intermediate speed data to said high speed transmitter means, said intermediate speed transmitter means serially receiving intermediate speed data and serially transmitting intermediate speed data to said high speed transmitter means.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said low speed transmitter means and said intermediate speed transmitter means are physically interchangeable with plug-in compatibility.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said standby data path protective switching means comprises standby transmitter means for each said interchangeable transmitter means having a different input rate, and wherein each said standby transmitter means is in parallel with all said groups.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 4 wherein said standby data protective switching means further comprises standby high speed transmitter means in parallel with said first mentioned high speed transmitter means.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said standby data protective switching means comprises standby low speed transmitter means and standby intermediate speed transmitter means both in parallel with all said groups.

Claim 8

A high reliability digital multiplexer combining protective standby data path switching with interchangeable acceptance of different data rate inputs, comprising: a plurality of parallel data input groups; a plurality of group transmit means, one for each group, interchangeably receiving low speed data and intermediate speed data, and transmitting intermediate speed data; high speed data transmit means multiplexing parallel intermediate speed data from said groups for serial transmission of high speed data; means for monitoring data paths through said group transmit means and high speed transmit means, comprising means for comparing input data on a selected path at said data input groups with corresponding data from said high speed transmit means to detect errors, said comparing means including means, responsive to the rate of the path input data, for conditioning it for said comparing and monitor control means, including means for setting up a path to be monitored, including selecting the path, determining the rate of the data in the selected path and supplying information to said comparing means to control timing of the comparing in dependence on said determined rate, and means for directing the monitoring of the selected path, including supervising operation of said comparing means and responding to said comparing to conduct a test of error rate; and standby data protective switching means, responsive to said monitoring means, for providing alternate data paths around said group transmit means and around said high speed transmit means.

Claim 9

A high reliability digital multiplexer combining protective standby data path switching with interchangeable acceptance of different data rate inputs, comprising: a plurality of parallel data input groups; a plurality of group transmit means, one for each group, interchangeably receiving low speed data and intermediate speed data, and transmitting intermediate speed data; high speed data transmit means multiplexing parallel intermediate speed data from said groups for serial transmission of high speed data; means for monitoring data paths through said group transmit means and high speed transmit means, comprising means for comparing input data on a selected path at said data input groups with corresponding data from said high speed transmit means to detect errors, said comparing means including means, responsive to the rate of the path input data, for conditioning it for said comparing and monitor control means, including means for setting up a path to be monitored, including selecting the path, determining the rate of the data in the selected path and supplying information to said comparing means to control timing of the comparing in dependence on said determined rate, and means for directing the monitoring of the selected path, including supervising operation of said comparing means and responding to said comparing to conduct a test of error rate; and standby data protective switching means, responsive to said monitoring means, for providing alternate data paths around said group transmit means and around said high speed transmit means.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 7 wherein: each group receives low speed data in parallel form over a plurality of channels or intermediate speed data in serial form; said transmit means comprises low speed transmit means for groups which receive the low speed data and intermediate speed transmit means for groups which receive intermediate speed data; said low speed transmit means multiplexing parallel low speed data from said plurality of channels in the respective group of serial transmission of intermediate speed data to said high speed transmit means; said intermediate speed transmit means serially receiving intermediate speed data and serially transmitting intermediate speed data to said high speed transmit means; said low speed transmit means and said intermediate speed transmit means being removably interchangeable.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 8 wherein said low speed transmit means and said intermediate speed transmit means are interchangeable with plug-in compatibility.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 9 wherein: said low speed transmit means comprises: low speed LBO (line build-out) switch means for receiving low speed input data over said channels for that respective group, and having a normally on-line main output for each channel and having a normally off-line standby output for each channel to said standby data protective switching means; low speed interface means receiving low speed data on said channels from said low speed LBO/Switch means; and low speed transmit common means multiplexing low speed data from said low speed interface means and transmitting intermediate speed data to said high speed data transmit means; said intermediate speed transmit means comprises: intermediate speed LBO/Switch means for receiving intermediate speed input data for that respective group, and having a normally on-line main output, and having a normally off-line standby output to said standby data protective switching means; and intermediate speed transmit interface means receiving intermediate speed data from said intermediate speed LBO/Switch means and transmitting intermediate speed data to said high speed transmit means.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 10 wherein said low and intermediate speed LBO/Switch means comprise interchangeably compatible plug-in modules.

Claim 14

The invention according to claim 11 wherein:

Claim 15

said low speed transmit common means has a normally on-line main output to said high speed data transmit means and has a normally off-line standby output to said standby data path protective switching means; said intermediate speed transmit interface means has a normally on-line main output to said high speed data transmit means and has a normally off-line standby output to said standby data path protective switching means; and said low speed transmit common means and said intermediate speed transmit interface means comprise interchangeably compatible plug-in modules.

Claim 16

said low speed transmit common means has a normally on-line main output to said high speed data transmit means and has a normally off-line standby output to said standby data path protective switching means; said intermediate speed transmit interface means has a normally on-line main output to said high speed data transmit means and has a normally off-line standby output to said standby data path protective switching means; and said low speed transmit common means and said intermediate speed transmit interface means comprise interchangeably compatible plug-in modules.

Claim 17

A high reliability digital demultiplexer comprising in combination: a plurality of parallel data output groups; high speed receiver means demultiplexing serial high speed data for parallel transmission over said groups; reception means for each group comprising one of a plurality of interchangeable receiver means having identical input rates and different output rates such that each group receives an identical data rate from said high speed receiver means and such that each group has a selectable data output rate according to choice of interchangeable receiver means; means for monitoring data paths through said group reception means and high speed receiver means, comprising means for comparing output data on a selected path at said data output groups with corresponding data from said high speed receiver means to detect errors, said comparing means including means, responsive to the rate of the path output data, for conditioning it for said comparing and monitor control means, including means for setting up a path to be monitored, including selecting the path, determining the rate of the data in the selected path and supplying information to said comparing means to control timing of the comparing in dependence on said determined rate, and means for directing the monitoring of the selected path, including supervising operation of said comparing means and responding to said comparing to conduct a test of error rate; and standby data path protective switching means, responsive to said monitoring means, for providing an alternate data path around said reception means.

Claim 18

A high reliability digital demultiplexer comprising in combination: a plurality of parallel data output groups; high speed receiver means demultiplexing serial high speed data for parallel transmission over said groups; reception means for each group comprising one of a plurality of interchangeable receiver means having identical input rates and different output rates such that each group receives an identical data rate from said high speed receiver means and such that each group has a selectable data output rate according to choice of interchangeable receiver means; means for monitoring data paths through said group reception means and high speed receiver means, comprising means for comparing output data on a selected path at said data output groups with corresponding data from said high speed receiver means to detect errors, said comparing means including means, responsive to the rate of the path output data, for conditioning it for said comparing and monitor control means, including means for setting up a path to be monitored, including selecting the path, determining the rate of the data in the selected path and supplying information to said comparing means to control timing of the comparing in dependence on said determined rate, and means for directing the monitoring of the selected path, including supervising operation of said comparing means and responding to said comparing to conduct a test of error rate; and standby data path protective switching means, responsive to said monitoring means, for providing an alternate data path around said reception means.

Claim 19

The invention according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of said receiver means is two, comprising low speed receiver means and intermediate speed receiver means, said low speed receiver means demultiplexing intermediate speed data from said high speed receiver means for parallel transmission of low speed data over a plurality of reception channels in a respective group, said intermediate speed receiver means serially receiving intermediate speed data from said high speed receiver means and serially transmitting intermediate speed data over a respective group.

Claim 20

The invention according to claim 14 wherein said low speed receiver means and said intermediate speed receiver means are physically interchangeable with plug-in compatibility.

Claim 21

The invention according to claim 13 wherein said standby data path protective switching means comprises standby receiver means for each said interchangeable receiver means having a different output rate, and wherein each said standby receiver means is in parallel with all said groups.

Claim 22

The invention according to claim 16 wherein said standby data protective switching means further comprises standby high speed receiver means in parallel with said first mentioned high speed receiver means.

Claim 23

The invention according to claim 14 wherein said standby data protective switching means comprises standby low speed receiver means and standby intermediate speed receiver means both in parallel with all said groups.

Claim 24

A high reliability digital demultiplexer combining protective standby data path switching with interchangeable delivery of different data rate outputs, comprising: a plurality of parallel data output groups; a plurality of data group receiver means, one for each group, interchangeably transmitting low speed data and intermediate speed data, and receiving intermediate speed data; high speed data receiver means demultiplexing high speed serial data for parallel transmission of intermediate speed data on said groups; means for monitoring data paths through said group receiver means and high speed receiver means, comprising means for comparing output data on a selected path at said data output groups with corresponding data from said high speed receiver means to detect errors, said comparing means including means, responsive to the rate of the path output data, for conditioning it for said comparing and monitor control means, including means for setting up a path to be monitored, including selecting the path, determining the rate of the data in the selected path and supplying information to said comparing means to control timing of the comparing in dependence on said determined rate, and means for directing the monitoring of the selected path, including supervising operation of said comparing means and responding to said comparing to conduct a test of error rate; and standby data path protective switching means, responsive to said monitoring means, for providing alternate data paths around said group receiver means and around said high speed receiver means.

Claim 25

A high reliability digital demultiplexer combining protective standby data path switching with interchangeable delivery of different data rate outputs, comprising: a plurality of parallel data output groups; a plurality of data group receiver means, one for each group, interchangeably transmitting low speed data and intermediate speed data, and receiving intermediate speed data; high speed data receiver means demultiplexing high speed serial data for parallel transmission of intermediate speed data on said groups; means for monitoring data paths through said group receiver means and high speed receiver means, comprising means for comparing output data on a selected path at said data output groups with corresponding data from said high speed receiver means to detect errors, said comparing means including means, responsive to the rate of the path output data, for conditioning it for said comparing and monitor control means, including means for setting up a path to be monitored, including selecting the path, determining the rate of the data in the selected path and supplying information to said comparing means to control timing of the comparing in dependence on said determined rate, and means for directing the monitoring of the selected path, including supervising operation of said comparing means and responding to said comparing to conduct a test of error rate; and standby data path protective switching means, responsive to said monitoring means, for providing alternate data paths around said group receiver means and around said high speed receiver means.

Claim 26

The invention according to claim 19 wherein: each group transmits low speed data in parallel form over a plurality of channels or intermediate speed data in serial form; said receiver means comprises low speed receiver means for groups which transmit low speed data and intermediate speed receiver means for groups which transmit intermediate speed data; said low speed receiver means demultiplexing intermediate speed data from said high speed receiver means for parallel transmission of low speed data on said plurality of channels in its respective group; said intermediate speed receiver means serially receiving intermediate speed data from said high speed receiver means and serially transmitting intermediate speed data on its respective group; said low speed receiver means and said intermediate speed receiver means being removably interchangeable.

Claim 27

The invention according to claim 20 wherein said low speed receiver means and said intermediate speed receiver means are interchangeable with plug-in compatibility.

Claim 28

The invention according the claim 21 wherein: said low speed receiver means comprises: low speed LBO (line build-out) switch means for transmitting low speed output data over said channels for that respective group, and having a normally on-line main input for each channel, and having a normally off-line standby input for each channel from said standby data protective switching means; low speed interface means transmitting low speed data on said channels to said low speed LBO/Switch means; and low speed receive common means demultiplexing intermediate speed data from said high speed receiver means for parallel transmission of low speed data to said low speed interface means; said intermediate speed receiver means comprises: intermediate speed LBO/Switch means for transmitting intermediate speed output data for that respective group, and having a normally on-line main input, and having a normally off-line standby input from said standby data protective switching means; and intermediate speed receive interface means receiving intermediate speed data from high speed receiver means and transmitting intermediate speed data to said intermediate speed LBO/Switch means.

Claim 29

The invention according to claim 22 wherein said low and intermediate speed LBO/Switch means comprise interchangeably compatible plug-in modules.

Claim 30

The invention according to claim 23 wherein: said low speed receive common means has a normally on-line main input from said high speed receiver means and has a normally off-line standby input from said standby data path protective switching means; said intermediate speed receive interface means as a normally on-line main input from said high speed receiver means and has a normally off-line standby input from said standby data path protective switching means; and said low speed receive common means and said intermediate speed receive interface means comprise interchangeably compatible plug-in modules.

Claim 31

A high reliability digital muldem comprising in combination: a plurality of parallel data input transmission groups; high speed transmitter means multiplexing said transmission groups for high speed serial data transmission; a plurality of parallel data output reception groups; high speed receiver means demultiplexing serial high speed data for parallel transmission over said reception groups; transmission means for each said transmission group comprising one of a plurality of interchangeable transmitter means having different input rates and identical output rates such that each said transmission group has a selectable data input rate according to choice of interchangeable transmitter means and such that each said transmission group transmits an identical data rate to said high speed transmitter means; reception means for each said reception group comprising one of a plurality of interchangeable receiver means having identical input rates and different output rates such that each said reception group receives an identical data rate from said high speed receiver means and such that each said reception group has a selectable data output rate according to choice of interchangeable receiver means; means for monitoring data paths through said group transmission means and high speed transmitter means and through said group reception means and high speed receiver means, comprising means for comparing input data on a selected path at said data input groups with corresponding data from said high speed transmitter means and for comparing output data on a selected path at said data output groups with corresponding data from said high speed receiver means, to detect errors, said comparing means including means, responsive to the rate of the path data at said groups, for conditioning it for said comparing and monitor control means, including means for setting up a path to be monitored, including selecting the path, determining the rate of the data in the selected path and supplying information to said comparing means to control timing of the comparing in dependence on said determined rate, and means for directing the monitoring of the selected path, including supervising operation of said comparing means and responding to said comparing to conduct a test of error rate; and standby data protective switching means, responsive to said monitoring means, for providing alternate data paths around said transmission means and said reception means.

Claim 32

A high reliability digital muldem comprising in combination: a plurality of parallel data input transmission groups; high speed transmitter means multiplexing said transmission groups for high speed serial data transmission; a plurality of parallel data output reception groups; high speed receiver means demultiplexing serial high speed data for parallel transmission over said reception groups; transmission means for each said transmission group comprising one of a plurality of interchangeable transmitter means having different input rates and identical output rates such that each said transmission group has a selectable data input rate according to choice of interchangeable transmitter means and such that each said transmission group transmits an identical data rate to said high speed transmitter means; reception means for each said reception group comprising one of a plurality of interchangeable receiver means having identical input rates and different output rates such that each said reception group receives an identical data rate from said high speed receiver means and such that each said reception group has a selectable data output rate according to choice of interchangeable receiver means; means for monitoring data paths through said group transmission means and high speed transmitter means and through said group reception means and high speed receiver means, comprising means for comparing input data on a selected path at said data input groups with corresponding data from said high speed transmitter means and for comparing output data on a selected path at said data output groups with corresponding data from said high speed receiver means, to detect errors, said comparing means including means, responsive to the rate of the path data at said groups, for conditioning it for said comparing and monitor control means, including means for setting up a path to be monitored, including selecting the path, determining the rate of the data in the selected path and supplying information to said comparing means to control timing of the comparing in dependence on said determined rate, and means for directing the monitoring of the selected path, including supervising operation of said comparing means and responding to said comparing to conduct a test of error rate; and standby data protective switching means, responsive to said monitoring means, for providing alternate data paths around said transmission means and said reception means.

Claim 33

The invention according to claim 25, wherein said plurality of said interchangeable transmitter means is two, comprising low speed transmitter means and intermediate speed transmitter means, said low speed transmitter means multiplexing parallel low speed data from a plurality of input transmission channels in a respective input transmission group for serial transmission of intermediate speed data over its respective transmission group to said high speed transmitter means, said intermediate speed transmitter means serially receiving intermediate speed data and serially transmitting intermediate speed data over its respective input transmission group to said high speed transmitter means; and said plurality of interchangeable receiver means is two, comprising low speed receiver means and intermediate speed receiver means, said low speed receiver means demultiplexing intermediate speed data from said high speed receiver means for parallel transmission of low speed data over a plurality of output reception channels in a respective output reception group, said intermediate speed receiver means serially receiving intermediate speed data from said high speed receiver means and serially transmitting intermediate speed data over its respective output reception group.

Claim 34

The invention according to claim 26 wherein said standby data protective switching means comprises: standby low speed transmitter means and standby intermediate speed transmitter means both in parallel with all said transmission groups; and standby low speed receiver means and a standby intermediate speed receiver means both in parallel with all said reception groups; standby high speed transmitter means in parallel with said first mentioned high speed transmitter means; and a standby high speed receiver in means parallel with said first mentioned high speed receiver means.

Claim 35

The invention according to claim 27 wherein: said low speed transmitter means and said intermediate speed transmitter means are physically interchangeable with plug-in compatibility; and said low speed receiver means and said intermediate speed receiver means are physically interchangeable with plug-in compatibility.

Claim 36

The invention according to claim 27 wherein: said low speed transmitter means comprises a low speed transmit common module and Y low speed interface modules, one for each channel; said low speed receiver means a low speed receive common module and shares the same said Y low speed interface modules which are duplex; said intermediate speed transmitter means comprises an intermediate speed transmit interface module; said intermediate speed receiver means comprises an intermediate speed receive interface module; a rack having Y+2 plug-in slots for each pair of transmission and reception groups, a low speed group using Y+2 slots, one each for said low speed transmit common module, said low speed receive common module, and each of said Y low speed interface modules, an intermediate speed group using two of said slots, one for said intermediate speed transmit interface module, and one for said intermediate speed receive interface module.

Claim 37

A high reliability digital muldem combining protective standby data path switching with interchangeable acceptance and delivery of different data rate inputs and outputs, respectively, comprising: a plurality of parallel data input transmission groups; a plurality of parallel data output reception groups; a plurality of group transmit means, one for each input transmission group, interchangeably receiving low speed data and intermediate speed data, and transmitting intermediate speed data; a plurality of group receiver means, one for each output reception group, interchangeably transmitting low speed data and intermediate speed data, and receiving intermediate speed data; high speed data transmit means multilexing parallel intermediate speed data from said input transmission groups for serial transmission of high speed data; high speed data receiver means demultiplexing serial high speed input data for parallel transmission of intermediate speed data to said output reception groups; means for monitoring data paths through said group transmit means and high speed transmit means and through said group receiver means and high speed receiver means, comprising means for comparing input data on a selected path at said data input groups with corresponding data from said high speed transmit means and for comparing output data on a selected path at said data output groups with corresponding data from said high speed receiver means, to detect errors, said comparing means including means, responsive to the rate of path data at said groups, for conditioning it for said comparing and monitor control means, including means for setting up a path to be monitored, including selecting the path, determining the rate of the data in the selected path and supplying information to said comparing means to control timing of the comparing in dependence on said determined rate, and means for directing the monitoring of the selected path, including supervising operation of said comparing means and responding to said comparing to conduct a test of error rate; and standby data path protective switching means providing, responsive to said monitoring means, for alternate data path around said group transmit and receiver means and around said high speed transmit and receiver means.

Claim 38

A high reliability digital muldem combining protective standby data path switching with interchangeable acceptance and delivery of different data rate inputs and outputs, respectively, comprising: a plurality of parallel data input transmission groups; a plurality of parallel data output reception groups; a plurality of group transmit means, one for each input transmission group, interchangeably receiving low speed data and intermediate speed data, and transmitting intermediate speed data; a plurality of group receiver means, one for each output reception group, interchangeably transmitting low speed data and intermediate speed data, and receiving intermediate speed data; high speed data transmit means multilexing parallel intermediate speed data from said input transmission groups for serial transmission of high speed data; high speed data receiver means demultiplexing serial high speed input data for parallel transmission of intermediate speed data to said output reception groups; means for monitoring data paths through said group transmit means and high speed transmit means and through said group receiver means and high speed receiver means, comprising means for comparing input data on a selected path at said data input groups with corresponding data from said high speed transmit means and for comparing output data on a selected path at said data output groups with corresponding data from said high speed receiver means, to detect errors, said comparing means including means, responsive to the rate of path data at said groups, for conditioning it for said comparing and monitor control means, including means for setting up a path to be monitored, including selecting the path, determining the rate of the data in the selected path and supplying information to said comparing means to control timing of the comparing in dependence on said determined rate, and means for directing the monitoring of the selected path, including supervising operation of said comparing means and responding to said comparing to conduct a test of error rate; and standby data path protective switching means providing, responsive to said monitoring means, for alternate data path around said group transmit and receiver means and around said high speed transmit and receiver means.

Claim 39

The invention according to claim 30 wherein: each input transmission group receives low speed data in parallel form over a plurality of input transmission channels or intermediate speed data in serial form; each output reception group transmits low speed data in parallel form over a plurality of output reception channels for intermediate speed data in serial form; said transmit means comprises low speed transmit means for input transmission groups which receive low speed data and intermediate speed transmit means for input transmission groups which receive intermediate speed data; said receiver means comprises low speed receiver means for output reception groups which transmit low speed data and intermediate speed receiver means for output reception groups which transmit intermediate speed data; said low speed transmit means multiplexing parallel low speed data from said input transmission channels in the respective group for serial transmission of intermediate speed data to said high speed transmit means; said low speed receiver means demultiplexing serial intermediate speed data from said high speed receiver means for parallel transmission of low speed data over said output reception channels; said intermediate speed transmit means serially receiving intermediate speed data and serially transmitting intermediate speed data to said high speed transmit means; said intermediate speed receiver means serially receiving intermediate speed data from said high speed receiver means and serially transmitting intermediate speed data; said low speed transmit means and said intermediate speed transmit means being removably interchangeable; and said low speed receiver means and said intermediate speed receiver means being removably interchangeable.

Claim 40

The invention according to claim 31 wherein said low speed transmit means and said intermediate speed transmit means are interchangeable with plug-in compatibility, and wherein said low speed receiver means and said intermediate speed receiver means are interchangeable with plug-in compatibility.

Claim 41

The invention according to claim 32 wherein: said low speed transmit means comprises: low speed LBO (line build-out) switch means for receiving low speed input data over said input transmission channels for that respective input transmission group, and having a normally on-line main output for each transmission channel, and having a normally off-line standby output for each transmission channel to said standby data protective switching means; low speed interface means receiving low speed data on said transmission channels from said low speed LBO/Switch means; and low speed transmit common means multiplexing low speed data from said low speed interface means and transmitting intermediate speed data to said high speed data transmit means; said low speed receiver means comprises: low speed LBO/Switch means for transmitting low speed output data over said output reception channels for that respective output reception group, and having a normally on-line main input for each reception channel, and having a normally off-line standby input for each reception channel from said standby data protective switching means; low speed interface means transmitting low speed data on said reception channels to said low speed LBO/Switch means; and low speed receive common means demultiplexing intermediate speed data from said high speed receiver means for parallel transmission of low speed data to said low speed interface means; said intermediate speed transmit means comprises: intermediate speed LBO/Switch means for receiving intermediate speed input data for that respective input transmission group, and having a normally on-line main output, and having a normally off-line standby output to said standby data protective switching means; and intermediate speed transmit interface means receiving intermediate speed data from said intermediate speed LBO/Switch means and transmitting intermediate speed data to said high speed data transmit means; said intermediate speed receiver means comprises: intermediate speed LBO/Switch means for transmitting intermediate speed output data for that respective output reception group, and having a normally on-line main input, and having a normally off-line standby input from said standby data protective switching means; and intermediate speed receive interface means receiving intermediate speed data from said high speed receiver means and transmitting intermediate speed data to said intermediate speed LBO/Switch means.

Claim 42

The invention according to claim 33 wherein said low and intermediate speed LBO/Switch means of said low and intermediate speed transmit means comprise interchangeably compatible plug-in modules, and wherein said low and intermediate speed LBO/Switch means of said low and intermediate speed receiver means comprise interchangeably compatible plug-in modules.

Claim 43

The invention according to claim 34 wherein said low speed LBO/Switch means of said low speed transmit and receiver means comprise a unitary duplex module, and said intermediate speed LBO/Switch means of said intermediate speed transmit and receiver means comprise a unitary duplex module, each of said duplex modules being interchangeably compatible in plug-in relation.

Claim 44

The invention according to claim 33 wherein: said low speed transmit common means has a normally on-line main output to said high speed transmit means and has a normally off-line standby output to said standby data path protective switching means; said low speed receive common means has a normally on-line main input from said high speed receiver means and has a normally off-line standby input from said standby data path protective switching means; said intermediate speed transmit interface means has a normally on-line main output to said high speed transmit means and has a normally off-line standby output to said standby data path protective switching means; said intermediate speed receive interface means has a normally on-line main input from said high speed receiver means and has a normally off-line standby input from said standby data path protective switching means; said low speed transmit common means and said intermediate speed transmit interface means comprise interchangeably compatible plug-in modules; and said low speed receive common means and said intermediate speed receive interface means comprise interchangeably compatible plug-in modules.

Claim 45

The invention according to claim 36 wherein said low speed interface means of said low speed transmit and receiver means comprise a unitary duplex module.

Claim 46

The invention according to claim 37 wherein said low speed LBO/Switch means of said low speed transmit and receiver means comprise a unitary duplex module, and said intermediate speed LBO/Switch means of said intermediate speed transmit and receiver means comprise a unitary duplex module, said duplex modules being interchangeably compatible in plug-in relation.

Claim 47

The multiplexer of claim 2, wherein each of said low speed transmitter means includes a plurality of sections, each associated with a different one of said channels in a group, and includes a part common to all the channels in the respective group, said monitor control means further including means for deciding between said part and one of said sections as a probable source of error detected by the comparing means.

Claim 48

The demultiplexer of claim 14, wherein each of said low speed receiver means includes a plurality of sections, each associated with a different one of said channels in a group, and includes a part common to all the channels in the respective group, said monitor control means further including means for deciding between said part and one of said sections as a probable source of error detected by the comparing means.

Claim 49

The muldem of claim 26, wherein each of said low speed transmitter and receiver means includes a plurality of sections, each associated with a different one of said channels in a group, and includes a part common to all the channels in the respective group, said monitor control means further including means for deciding between said part and one of said sections as a probable source of error detected by the comparing means.