Mapping of block-encoded data formats onto a bit/byte synchronous transport medium

1. A method for use in apparatus of a communications system, the method comprising the steps of:

using a transmitter for

decoding block encoded data for removing the block encoding from the data, wherein the data represents, at least one of a control type or a data type;

mapping the data into a protocol data unit (PDU) for transmission over a synchronous transport medium.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the PDU comprises a header portion and a payload portion and includes a type field representing whether the data represents a data type or a control type.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transport medium is bit/byte synchronous.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the transport medium is a synchronous optical network (SONET).

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the mapping step maps the data into a simplified data link (SDL) PDU.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the decoding step comprises the steps of:

receiving a fibre channel (FC) signal representing the block encoded data; and

decoding the FC signal for removing the block encoding from the data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the decoding step further comprises the steps of:

receiving an enterprise systems connection (ESCON) signal representing the block encoded data; and

decoding the ESCON signal for removing the block encoding from the data.

8. A method for use in communications apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

using a transmitter for

(a) receiving a signal representing block encoded data;

(b) decoding the signal for removing the block encoding from the data;

(c) determining whether the data represents, at least one of a control type or a data type;

(d) comparing the determined type to a type of previous data, which represents at least one previously decoded block of data; and

(e) if the determined type is different from the type of previous data, formulating the previous data into a payload data unit (PDU) for transmission over a synchronous transport medium.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:

(f) if the determined type is not different from the type of previous data, storing the data in a buffer;

(g) determining if the buffer is full; and

(h) if the buffer is full, formulating the buffered data into a PDU for transmission over the synchronous transport medium.

10. A method for use in apparatus of a communications system, the method comprising the steps of:

using a transmitter for

receiving a signal from a synchronous transport medium, wherein the signal represents information conveyed in a protocol data unit (PDU);

decoding the PDU by examining a type field of the PDU, wherein the type field indicates whether data in a payload portion of the PDU represents either a data type or a control type; and

block encoding the data for transmission.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the transport medium is bit/byte synchronous.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the transport medium is a synchronous optical network (SONET).

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the block encoding step further comprises the step of forming a fibre channel (FC) signal representing the block encoded data.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the block encoding step further comprises the step of forming an enterprise systems connection (ESCON) signal representing the block encoded data.

15. Apparatus for use in a communications system, the apparatus comprising:

a decoder operative on-block-encoded data for removing the block encoding from the data, wherein the data represents, at least one of a control type or a data type; and

a mapper for mapping the data into a protocol data unit (PDU) for transmission over a synchronous transport medium.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the PDU comprises a header portion and a payload portion and includes a type field representing whether the data represents a data type or a control type.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the transport medium is bit/byte synchronous.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the transport medium is a synchronous optical network (SONET).

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the mapper maps the data into a simplified data link (SDL) PDU.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the decoder is operative on a fibre channel (FC) signal representing the block encoded data, and decodes the FC signal for removing the block encoding from the data.

21. An apparatus for use in a communications system including a synchronous transport medium, comprising:

a receiver connected to the synchronous transport medium, capable of receiving a signal representing information conveyed in a protocol data unit (PDU);

an encoder, configured (a) to examine a type field of the PDU, wherein the type field indicates whether data in a payload portion of the PDU represents either a data type or a control type, and (b) to block encode the data for transmission.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the synchronous transport medium is bit/byte synchronous.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the synchronous transport medium is a synchronous optical network (SONET).

24. The apparatus of claim 21 including a fibre channel (FC) transmitter connected to the encoder capable of forming an FC signal representing the block encoded data.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 including an enterprise systems (ESCON) transmitter connected to the encoder capable of forming an ESCON signal representing the block and coded data.

26. An apparatus for use in a communications system, the apparatus comprising:

a decoder operative on block-encoded data for removing the block encoding from the data, wherein the data represents, at least, a control type and a data type; and

a mapper for mapping the decoded data into a protocol data unit (PDU) for transmission over a synchronous transport medium;

wherein the decoder is operative on an enterprise systems connection (ESCON) signal representing the block encoded data, and decodes the ESCON signal for removing the block encoding from the data.

27. An apparatus for use in a communications system, the apparatus comprising:

a decoder operative on block-encoded data for removing the block encoding from the data, wherein the data represents, at least, a control type and a data type; and

a mapper for mapping the decoded data into a protocol data unit (PDU) for transmission over a synchronous transport medium, including

a comparator for comparing the type of the block-encoded data to a type of previous data, which represents at least one previously decoded block of data; and

a buffer;

wherein the mapper is configured to store the data in the buffer if the determined type is not different from the type of previous data.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the mapper is configured to formulate the previous data into a protocol data unit (PDU) for transmission over a synchronous transport medium if the determined type is different from the type of previous data.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the mapper is configured to formulate the buffered data into a PDU for transmission over the synchronous transport medium if the buffer is full.