Frame code converter

Claim 2

In a system receiving a time multiplexed data stream organized in frames and a clock signal synchronized with the data stream, each frame including a plurality of multibit channels and a frame code, a plurality of frames making up a superframe and the frame codes from the plurality of frames in a superframe making up a framing pattern with a preselected format, an apparatus for converting a frame code from the received data stream having a framing pattern in a first preselected format to a frame code in an output data stream having a framing pattern according to a second preselected format, comprising: a data path connected to receive the data stream framing means, connected to receive the clock signal, for identifying framing windows in the data stream; modifying means, in communication with the framing means, for generating a frame code modifier for identified framing windows; and combining means, connected to the data path and the modifying means, for combining the frame code modifier with the data stream in the framing window to supply the output data stream.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, further including: means, connected to receive a control signal and in communication with the modifying means, for disabling the modifying means in response to the control signal.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, further including: means, in communication with the data path, for detecting data that does not match the first preselected format in the received data stream; and means, in communication with the combining means and the means for detecting data that does not match the first preselected format, for forcing the combining means to supply a default value in response to the detection of data that does not match the first preselected format.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, further including: means, in communication with the modifying means and the means for detecting data that does not match the first preselected format and connected to receive a control signal, for disabling the modifying means and the means for detecting data that does not match the first preselected format.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the means for detecting data that does not match the first preselected format includes: storage means, connected to receive the received data stream, for storing data from a previous framing window; and comparing means, in communication with the storage means and the data path, for comparing data received in a current framing window with the corresponding data from the previous framing window.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the framing means includes: first counter means for counting bits of data in the received data stream to identify framing windows.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the modifying means includes: code storage means for storing a plurality of frame code modifiers; second counter means for counting framing windows to generate a modifier count; and selector means, in communication with the code storage means and the second counter means, for selecting a frame code modifier in response to the modifier count.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame codes are single bit codes and the frame code modifiers are single bit codes and the combining means includes: means for adding, modulo-2, each bit in an identified framing window to the generated frame code modifier.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the framing pattern having the first format includes a repeating pattern of frame codes so that a given frame code within the repeating pattern defines a phase of the framing pattern, and wherein the modifier means generates a frame code modifier independent of the phase of the framing pattern in the received data stream.

Claim 11

In a system receiving a time multiplexed data stream organized in frames and a clock signal synchronized with the data stream, each frame including a plurality of multibit channels and a frame code, a plurality of frames making up a superframe and the frame codes from the plurality of frames in a superframe making up a framing pattern with a preselected format, an apparatus for converting a frame code from the received data stream having a framing pattern in a first preselected format to a frame code in an output data stream having a framing pattern according to a second preselected format, comprising: a data path connected to receive the data stream first counter means for counting bits of data in the received data stream to identify framing windows; code storage means for storing a plurality of frame code modifiers; second counter means, in communication with the first counter means, for counting framing windows to generate a modifier count; selector means, in communication with the code storage means and the second counter means, for selecting a frame code modifier in response to the modifier count; and combining means, connected to the data path and the selector means, for combining the frame code modifier with the received data stream in the identified framing window to supply the output data stream.

Claim 12

In a system receiving a time multiplexed data stream organized in frames and a clock signal synchronized with the data stream, each frame including a plurality of multibit channels and a frame code, a plurality of frames making up a superframe and the frame codes from the plurality of frames in a superframe making up a framing pattern with a preselected format, an apparatus for converting a frame code from the received data stream having a framing pattern in a first preselected format to a frame code in an output data stream having a framing pattern according to a second preselected format, comprising: a data path connected to receive the data stream first counter means for counting bits of data in the received data stream to identify framing windows; code storage means for storing a plurality of frame code modifiers; second counter means, in communication with the first counter means, for counting framing windows to generate a modifier count; selector means, in communication with the code storage means and the second counter means, for selecting a frame code modifier in response to the modifier count; and combining means, connected to the data path and the selector means, for combining the frame code modifier with the received data stream in the identified framing window to supply the output data stream.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10, further including: means, in communication with the second counter means and connected to receive a control signal, for setting the second counter means in response to the control signal to a selected modifier count.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10, further including: means, in communication with the data path, for detecting data that does not match the first preselected format in the received data stream; and means, in communication with the combining means and the means for detecting data that does not match the first preselected format, for forcing the combining means to supply a default value in response to the detection of data that does not match the first preselected format.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12, further including: means, connected to receive a control signal and in communication with the means for detecting data that does not match the first preselected format and the second counter means, for disabling the means for detecting data that does not match the first preselected format and setting the second counter means to a selected modifier count in response to the control signal.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for detecting data that does not match the first preselected format includes: storage means, connected to receive the received data stream, for storing data received during a previous framing window; and comparing means, in communication with the storage means and the data path, for comparing data received during an identified framing window with corresponding data from the previous framing window to detect data that does not match the first preselected format.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the frame codes are single bit codes and the frame code modifiers are single bit codes and the combining means includes: means for adding, modulo-2, the received data stream in the identified framing window to the generated frame code modifier to generate the frame code in the output data stream.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the framing pattern having the first preselected format includes a repeating pattern of frame codes so that a given frame code within the repeating pattern defines a phase of the framing pattern and the plurality of frame code modifiers make up a conversion code, and wherein the selector means selects a frame code modifier from the conversion code independent of the phase of the framing pattern in the received data stream.