At+t Corp.

Robert D Bresalier

Robert C Fairfield

Kevin Loughran

A multi-signal multi-coder transcoder is disclosed for communications systems that can be fabricated less expensively than embodiments in the prior art and without requiring significant changes to the signal source and destination devices. An illustrative embodiment preferably comprises an input lead, an output lead, an input switch, an output switch, a pool of N processing elements, which are configured to perform a first coding technique and a pool of M processing elements, which are configured to perform a second coding technique, or possibly both techniques. When the input lead carries a plurality of multiplexed signals, each of which is to be transcoded in accordance with one of the two coding techniques, the input switch segregates and routes the incoming signals to an appropriate processing element. While a processing element is preferably configured to perform only one coding technique, each is preferably capable of transcoding multiple signals concurrently in accordance with that technique. The output switch gathers the respective transcoded signals, re-multiplexes them and transmits them on the output lead.

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Parsippany, NJ, United States of America

Robert D Bresalier