Dynamic mixing TDM data with data packets
To more fully utilize the available bandwidth of a network link, network nodes in accordance with the present invention allow TDM data to be combined with packet data. A Packet/TDM cross connect switch, having both a TDM switch and a packet switch, is used in these embodiments. Data packets are transformed into TDM packet columns. The TDM packet columns are combined with standard TDM data columns in the payload of a TDM data frame. Data packets may be sorted based on a priority scheme, in which high priority data packets are given precedence over lower priority data. However, both high priority and low priority may be combined in a TDM packet column.
1. A method of combining TDM data and data packets comprising:
receiving a plurality of TDM data columns:
receiving a plurality of data packets,
transforming a first subset of the data packets into one or more TDM packet colunms;
and combining the TDM packet columns with a first subset of the TDM data columns to form a data payload of an outgoing TDM data frame;
wherein a TDM packet column includes a high priority data packet and a low priority data packet; and
wherein the receiving a plurality of TDM data columns further comprises receiving an incoming TDM data frame containing a second subset of TDM data columns.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving a plurality of TDM data columns further comprises receiving a third subset of TDM data columns from a TDM user interface.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising separating the second subset of TDM data columns into a plurality of DROP TDM data columns and a plurality of THROUGH TDM data columns.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising sending a DROP TDM data columns to a TDM user interface.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the outgoing TDM data frame contains the through TDM data columns.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the outgoing TDM data frame contains a third subset of TDM data columns from the TDM user interface.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the TDM packet columns and the TDM data columns are interleaved within the payload.
8. A method of combining TDM data and data packets comprising:
receiving a plurality of TDM data columns:
receiving a plurality of data packets,
transforming a first subset of the data packets into one or more TDM packet columns;
and combining the TDM packet columns with a first subset of the TDM data columns to form a data payload of an outgoing TDM data frame;
wherein a TDM packet column includes a high priority data packet and a low priority data packet; and
wherein the receiving a plurality of data packets further comprises receiving an incoming TDM data frame containing a second subset of data packets.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the receiving a plurality of data packets further comprises receiving a third subset of data packets from a packet user interface.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising separating the second subset of data packets as DROP data packets and THROUGH data packets.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the DROP data packets are sent to a packet user interface.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the outgoing TDM data frame contains the THROUGH data packets.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the outgoing TDM data frame contains a third subset of data packets from a packet user interface.
14. A method of combining TDM data and data packets comprising:
receiving a first plurality of TDM data columns;
receiving a first plurality of data packets;
transforming a first subset of the first plurality of data packets into a first group of TDM packet columns;
combining the first group of TDM packet columns with a first subset of the first plurality of TDM data columns to form a first data payload of a first TDM data frame;
receiving a second plurality of TDM data columns;
receiving a second plurality of data packets;
transforming a first subset of the second plurality of data packets into a second group of TDM packet columns; and
combining the second group of TDM packet columns with a first subset of the second plurality of TDM data columns to form a second data payload of a second TDM data frame; and
wherein the first data payload is larger than the second data payload.
15. A method of combining TDM data and data packets comprising:
receiving a first plurality of TDM data columns;
receiving a first plurality of data packets,
transforming a first subset of the first plurality of data packets into a first group of TDM packet columns;
combining the first group of TDM packet columns with a first subset of the first plurality of TDM data columns to form a first data payload of a first TDM data frame;
receiving a second plurality of TDM data columns;
receiving a second plurality of data packets;
transforming a first subset of the second plurality of data packets into a second group of TDM packet columns; and
combining the second group of TDM packet columns with a first subset of the second plurality of TDM data columns to form a second data payload of a second TDM data frame; and
wherein the first subset of the first plurality of TDM data columns is larger than the first subset of the second plurality of TDM data columns.
16. A method of combining TDM data and data packets comprising:
receiving a first plurality of TDM data columns;
receiving a first plurality of data packets,
transforming a first subset of the first plurality of data packets into a first group of TDM packet columns;
combining the first group of TDM packet columns with a first subset of the first plurality of TDM data columns to form a first data payload of a first TDM data frame;
receiving a second plurality of TDM data columns;
receiving a second plurality of data packets;
transforming a first subset of the second plurality of data packets into a second group of TDM packet columns; and
combining the second group of TDM packet columns with a first subset of the second plurality of TDM data columns to form a second data payload of a second TDM data frame; and
wherein the first group of TDM packet columns is larger than the second group of TDM packet columns.
17. A method of combining TDM data and data packets comprising:
receiving a first plurality of TDM data columns;
receiving a first plurality of data packets,
transforming a first subset of the first plurality of data packets into a first group of TDM packet columns;
combining the first group of TDM packet columns with a first subset of the first plurality of TDM data columns to form a first data payload of a first TDM data frame;
receiving a second plurality of TDM data columns;
receiving a second plurality of data packets;
transforming a first subset of the second plurality of data packets into a second group of TDM packet columns; and
combining the second group of TDM packet columns with a first subset of the second plurality of TDM data columns to form a second data payload of a second TDM data frame; and
wherein a TDM packet column includes a high priority data packet and a low priority data packet.
18. A system for combining TDM data and data packets comprising:
means for receiving a plurality of TDM data columns:
means for receiving a plurality of data packets,
means for transforming a first subset of the data packets into one or more TDM packet columns; and
means for combining the TDM packet columns with a first subset of the TDM data columns to form a data payload of an outgoing TDM data frame;
wherein a TDM packet column includes a high priority data packet and a low priority data packet; and
wherein the means for receiving a plurality of TDM data columns further comprises means for receiving an incoming TDM data frame containing a second subset of TDM data columns.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the means for receiving a plurality of TDM data columns further comprises means for receiving a third subset of TDM data columns from a TDM user interface.
20. The system of claim 18 , further comprising means for separating the second subset of TDM data columns into a plurality of DROP TDM data columns and a plurality of THROUGH TDM data columns.
21. The system of claim 20 , further comprising means for sending the plurality of DROP TDM data columns to the TDM user interface.
22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the outgoing TDM data frame contains the through TDM data columns.
23. The system of claim 21 , wherein the outgoing TDM data frame contains a third subset of TDM data columns from the TDM user interface.
24. A system for combining TDM data and data packets comprising:
means for receiving a plurality of TDM data columns;
means for receiving a plurality of data packets,
means for transforming a first subset of the data packets into one or more TDM packet columns; and
means for combining the TDM packet columns with a first subset of the TDM data columns to form a data payload of an outgoing TDM data frame;
wherein a TDM packet column includes a high priority data packet and a low priority data packet; and
wherein the means for receiving a plurality of data packets further comprises means for receiving an incoming TDM data frame containing a second subset of data packets.
25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the means for receiving a plurality of data packets further comprises means for receiving a third subset of data packets from a packet user interface.