Flexible time division multiplexed bus using sonet formatting

Abstract

A SONET bus has a set of SONET mappers that transmit and receive facility signals on facility lines. Each facility line operates at a predetermined speed. Each SONET mapper generates a SONET signal by mapping the facility signals received by the SONET mapper into a predefined format for transmission. The predefined format includes timeslots associated with each received facility signal. Each SONET mapper receives a SONET signal and maps the received SONET signal into the facility signals transmitted by the SONET mapper on the facility lines. Each SONET signal includes an associated set of the facility signals. At least one counter outputs a timeslot count signal for synchronizing the timeslots of the facility signals. A set of bidirectional drivers has a mapper side and a system side. Each bidirectional driver receives the timeslot count signal. A first set of interconnections separately couples each bidirectional driver at the mapper side to at least one SONET mapper of the set of SONET mappers, such that each bidirectional driver receives the SONET signal generated by at least one SONET mapper and transmits the SONET signal received by at least one SONET mapper. A second set of interconnections couples the bidirectional drivers to each other at the system side. The bidirectional drivers transmit one or more of the facility signals via the second set of interconnections by extracting the one or more facility signals from the SONET signals generated by the SONET mappers in accordance with the timeslot count signal and the predefined format.