Delay-less signal processing arrangement for use in an ATM network

Claim 1

A method of processing a cell in an ATM network node, said node receiving a first cell via a first direction of a bidirectional connection and receiving a second cell via a second direction of said bidirectional connection, said second cell being noncoincidental in time with said first cell, said method comprising responding to receipt of said first cell, by storing a copy of said first cell in a buffer and forwarding said first cell to its intended destination, and responding to receipt of said second cell, by (a) processing the contents of said first and second cells in accord with a predetermined signal processing function, (b) forming the result of said signal processing function into a third cell and (c) forwarding said third cell over said second direction of said bidirectional connection in place of said second cell.

Claim 2

A method of processing a cell in an ATM network node, said node receiving a first cell via a first direction of a bidirectional connection and receiving a second cell via a second direction of said bidirectional connection, said second cell being noncoincidental in time with said first cell, said method comprising responding to receipt of said first cell, by storing a copy of said first cell in a buffer and forwarding said first cell to its intended destination, and responding to receipt of said second cell, by (a) processing the contents of said first and second cells in accord with a predetermined signal processing function, (b) forming the result of said signal processing function into a third cell and (c) forwarding said third cell over said second direction of said bidirectional connection in place of said second cell.

Claim 7

A method of processing a cell in an ATM network, said cell containing a payload indicative of a voice-band signal originating at a network TM network generating data samples of a voice-band signal as a result of sampling said voice-band signal at a first clock rate as said voice-band signal is received from a source and forwarding said data samples as they are generated to said ATM network via an interface, said method comprising the steps of at said interface, forming said data samples as they are received at said first clock rate into a cell comprising a series of octets and forwarding said cell when it is formed to said ATM network, at an ATM switch receiving said cell from said interface, storing said cell in a buffer, and supplying, at a second clock rate substantially greater than said first clock rate, the octets to a signal processing function, processing each of said octets in sequence in accordance with said processing function, and forming said octets at a second clock rate into another cell as they are processed and outputted by said signal processing function and then forwarding the other cell to an output.

Claim 8

A method of processing a cell in an ATM network, said cell containing a payload indicative of a voice-band signal originating at a network TM network generating data samples of a voice-band signal as a result of sampling said voice-band signal at a first clock rate as said voice-band signal is received from a source and forwarding said data samples as they are generated to said ATM network via an interface, said method comprising the steps of at said interface, forming said data samples as they are received at said first clock rate into a cell comprising a series of octets and forwarding said cell when it is formed to said ATM network, at an ATM switch receiving said cell from said interface, storing said cell in a buffer, and supplying, at a second clock rate substantially greater than said first clock rate, the octets to a signal processing function, processing each of said octets in sequence in accordance with said processing function, and forming said octets at a second clock rate into another cell as they are processed and outputted by said signal processing function and then forwarding the other cell to an output.