US5274635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for aligning a digital communication data stream across a cell network
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
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Filing: 1992-11-18
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Granted: 1993-12-28
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Expires: 2012-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for aligning a digital communication data stream across a cell network, wherein plurality of timeslot samples are generated by sampling the digital communication data stream transferred over a first circuit-switching communication link. The timeslot samples are assembled into a series of communication cells in a bit or byte skewed arrangement. An align flag in the header of a communication cell indicates that the communication cell contains an aligned timeslot sample.
Inventors
- 👤 Syed A. Rahman
- 👤 James P. O'Hare
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:32
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/64; H04L12/6418; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5646; H04L2012/5652; H04L2012/5672; H04L2012/5675; H04L2012/6424; H04L2012/6427; H04L2012/6445; H04L2012/6459
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for aligning a digital communication data stream across a cell network, comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of samples by sampling the digital communication data stream on a first circuit-switching communication link; assembling the samples into at least one communication cell, and setting an align flag in the communication cell if the communication cell contains an aligned sample; transferring the communication cell over a cell network according to a packet-switching communication protocol; sampling the communication cell over the cell network, and disassembling the communication cell; aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link if the align flag is set, and transferring the samples over the second circuit-switching communication link.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for aligning a digital communication data stream across a cell network, comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of samples by sampling the digital communication data stream on a first circuit-switching communication link; assembling the samples into at least one communication cell, and setting an align flag in the communication cell if the communication cell contains an aligned sample; transferring the communication cell over a cell network according to a packet-switching communication protocol; sampling the communication cell over the cell network, and disassembling the communication cell; aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link if the align flag is set, and transferring the samples over the second circuit-switching communication link.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the digital communication data stream comprises a plurality of timeslot channels, each timeslot channel comprising a plurality of data bits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the step of generating a plurality of samples comprises the step of sampling the data bits of the timeslot channels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the step of assembling the samples into at least one communication cell comprises the step of transferring the data bits to a payload portion of the communication cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the communication cell comprises a header portion including the align flag, and a plurality of payload data entries.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the step of setting an align flag in the communication cell comprises the step of setting the align flag in the header portion if a first payload data entry of the payload data entries contains a bit aligned sample.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the step of transferring the data bits to the communication cell comprises the step of transferring the data bits to the payload data entries, such that the data bits of a current sample are merged with at least one residual bit from the data bits of a previous sample.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the step of disassembling the communication cell comprises the step of accessing the samples from the payload entries, such that the current sample is merged with the residual bits of the previous sample.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the step of aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link comprises the step of discarding the residual bits of the previous sample if the align flag in the header portion is set.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of transferring the samples over the second circuit-switching communication link comprises the step of transferring the data bits of the samples into a plurality of timeslot channels over the second circuit-switching communication link.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the digital communication data stream comprises at least one DS1 frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the digital communication data stream comprises a plurality of DS0-A timeslots, each DS0-A timeslot comprising a plurality of data bits, and a C bit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating a plurality of samples comprises the step of generating a plurality of timeslot samples by sampling the data bits, and the C bit of the DS0-A timeslots.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the step of assembling the samples into at least one communication cell comprises the step of transferring the data bits, and the C bit of timeslot samples to a payload portion of the communication cell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the communication cell comprises a header portion including the align flag, and a plurality of payload data entries.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of setting an align flag in the communication cell comprises the step of setting the align flag in the header portion if a first payload data entry of the payload data entries contains a bit aligned C bit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the step of transferring the data bits, and the C bit of timeslot samples to the communication cell comprises the step of transferring the data bits and the C bit of the timeslot samples to the payload data entries, such that the data bits and the C bit of a current timeslot sample are merged with at least one residual bit from the data bits and the C bit of a previous timeslot sample.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the step of disassembling the communication cell comprises the step of accessing the timeslot samples from the payload entries, such that the current timeslot sample is merged with residual bits of the previous timeslot sample.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the step of aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link comprises the step of discarding the residual bits of the previous timeslot sample if the align flag in the header portion is set.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the step of transferring the samples over the second circuit-switching communication link comprises the step of transferring the data bits and the C bit of the timeslot samples into a plurality of DS0-A timeslots over the second circuit-switching communication link.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the digital communication data stream comprises a plurality of N×DS0 timeslots, each N×DS0 timeslot comprising a plurality of data bits.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the step of generating a plurality of samples comprises the step of generating a plurality of timeslot samples by sampling the data bits of the N×DS0 timeslots.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the step of assembling the samples into at least one communication cell comprises the step of transferring the data bits of the timeslot samples to a payload portion of the communication cell.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the communication cell comprises a header portion including the align flag, and a plurality of payload data entries.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the step of setting an align flag in the communication cell comprises the step of setting the align flag in the header portion if a first payload data entry of the payload data entries contains a byte aligned first DS0 timeslot of the N×DS0 timeslots.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the step of transferring the data bits of the timeslot samples to the communication cell comprises the step of transferring the data bits of the timeslot samples to the payload data entries, such that the data bits of a current timeslot sample are merged with the residual bits from the data bits of a previous timeslot sample.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 26, wherein the step of disassembling the communication cell comprises the step of accessing the timeslot samples from the payload entries, such that the current timeslot sample is merged with residual bits of the previous timeslot sample.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the step of aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link comprises the step of discarding the residual bits of the previous timeslot sample if the align flag in the header portion is set.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the step of aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link further comprises the step of generating at least one idle DS0 time slot over the second circuit-switching communication link.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the step of transferring the samples over the second circuit-switching communication link comprises the step of transferring the data bits of the timeslot samples into a plurality of N×DS0 timeslots over the second circuit-switching communication link.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for aligning a digital communication data stream across a cell network, comprising: means for generating a plurality of samples by sampling the digital communication data stream on a first circuit-switching communication link; means for assembling the samples into at least one communication cell, and setting an align flag in the communication cell if the communication cell contains an aligned sample; means for transferring the communication cell over a cell network according to a packet-switching communication protocol; means for sampling the communication cell over the cell network, and disassembling the communication cell; means for aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link if the align flag is set, and transferring the samples over the second circuit-switching communication link.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for aligning a digital communication data stream across a cell network, comprising: means for generating a plurality of samples by sampling the digital communication data stream on a first circuit-switching communication link; means for assembling the samples into at least one communication cell, and setting an align flag in the communication cell if the communication cell contains an aligned sample; means for transferring the communication cell over a cell network according to a packet-switching communication protocol; means for sampling the communication cell over the cell network, and disassembling the communication cell; means for aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link if the align flag is set, and transferring the samples over the second circuit-switching communication link.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the digital communication data stream comprises a plurality of timeslot channels, each timeslot channel comprising a plurality of data bits.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for generating a plurality of samples comprises means for sampling the data bits of the timeslot channels.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the means for assembling the samples into at least one communication cell comprises means for transferring the data bits to a payload portion of the communication cell.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the communication cell comprises a header portion including the align flag, and a plurality of payload data entries.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the means for setting the align flag in the communication cell comprises means for setting the align flag in the header portion if a first payload data entry of the payload data entries contains a bit aligned sample.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for transferring the data bits to the communication cell comprises means for transferring the data bits to the payload data entries, such that the data bits of a current sample are merged with at least one residual bit from the data bits of a previous sample.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for disassembling the communication cell comprises means for accessing the samples from the payload entries, such that the current sample is merged with the residual bits of the previous sample.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the means for aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link comprises means for discarding the residual bits of the previous sample if the align flag in the header portion is set.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the means for transferring the samples over the second circuit-switching communication link comprises means for transferring the data bits of the samples into a plurality of timeslot channels over the second circuit-switching communication link.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the digital communication data stream comprises at least one DS1 frame.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the digital communication data stream comprises a plurality of DS0-A timeslots, each DS0-A timeslot comprising a plurality of data bits, and a C bit.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the means for generating a plurality of samples comprises means for generating a plurality of timeslot samples by sampling the data bits, and the C bit of the DS0-A timeslots.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the means for assembling the samples into at least one communication cell comprises means for transferring the data bits, and the C bit of timeslot samples to a payload portion of the communication cell.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the communication cell comprises a header portion including the align flag, and a plurality of payload data entries.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the means for setting an align flag in the communication cell comprises means for setting the align flag in the header portion if a first payload data entry of the payload data entries contains a bit aligned C bit.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the means for transferring the data bits, and the C bit of timeslot samples to the communication cell comprises means for transferring the data bits and the C bit of the timeslot samples to the payload data entries, such that the data bits and the C bit of a current timeslot sample are merged with residual bits from the data bits and the C bit of a previous timeslot sample.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the means for disassembling the communication cell comprises means for accessing the timeslot samples from the payload entries, such that the current timeslot sample is merged with residual bits of the previous timeslot sample.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the means for aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link comprises means for discarding the residual bits of the previous timeslot sample if the align flag in the header portion is set.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the means for transferring the samples over the second circuit-switching communication link comprises means for transferring the data bits and the C bit of the timeslot samples into a plurality of DS0-A timeslots over the second circuit-switching communication link.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the digital communication data stream comprises a plurality of N×DS0 timeslots, each N×DS0 timeslot comprising a plurality of data bits.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the means for generating a plurality of samples comprises means for generating a plurality of timeslot samples by sampling the data bits of the N×DS0 timeslots.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the means for assembling the samples into at least one communication cell comprises means for transferring the data bits of the timeslot samples to a payload portion of the communication cell.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the communication cell comprises a header portion including the align flag, and a plurality of payload data entries.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the means for setting an align flag in the communication cell comprises means for setting the align flag in the header portion if a first payload data entry of the payload data entries contains a byte aligned first DS0 timeslot of the N×DS0 timeslots.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the means for transferring the data bits of the timeslot samples to the communication cell comprises means for transferring the data bits of the timeslot samples to the payload data entries, such that the data bits of a current timeslot sample are merged with the residual bits from the data bits of a previous timeslot sample.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the means for disassembling the communication cell comprises means for accessing the timeslot samples from the payload entries, such that the current timeslot sample is merged with residual bits of the previous timeslot sample.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the means for aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link comprises means for discarding the residual bits of the previous timeslot sample if the align flag in the header portion is set.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the means for aligning the samples on a second circuit-switching communication link comprises means for generating at least one idle DS0 time slot over the second circuit-switching communication link.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the means for transferring the samples over the second circuit-switching communication link comprises means for transferring the data bits of the timeslot samples into a plurality of N×DS0 timeslots over the second circuit-switching communication link.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-12-27 | 1997-06-28 | 1997-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-27 | 2001-06-28 | 2001-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-27 | 2005-06-28 | 2005-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |