Universal isochronous payload multiplexing

The authors describe a technique to transport arbitrary-rate isochronous digital signals over the existing telecommunication network. Universal isochronous payload multiplexing (UIPM) uses re-configurable hardware under the control of an arbitrary-rate plesiochronous multiplexing algorithm. Simulation and hardware measurements are presented to validate the concept. The method provides a novel alternative to asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) packetization/depacketization for isochronous payloads that would be particularly sensitive to delay, delay variation, and cell loss effects from ATM networks. UIPM operates over existing network facilities and is thereby feasible prior to widespread broadband ISDN deployment. The primary technical challenges of UIPM are in the control of waiting time jitter and in the design of an arbitrary-rate desynchronizer circuit. >