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Abstract

In an ATM switching network, ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) self-routing switches are interconnected by facilities carrying STM-N (synchronous transport modules level N) signals. At each inlet of an ATM self-routing switch, an STM overhead is removed from each frame of an incoming STM-N signal to create a vacant interval and the frame is converted according to ATM cell format into a series of data ATM cells, and an idle ATM cell is derived from the vacant interval. A supervisory bit sequence is inserted to the payload field of the idle ATM cell to produce a supervisory ATM cell, and the data and supervisory ATM cells are sent into the ATM switch. At each outlet of the switch, the bit sequence of the supervisory ATM cell is checked to evaluate the quality of the ATM switch and a series of data ATM cells is then converted into an STM-N signal according to STM-N frame format.

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First Claim