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Basic Elements of STM-1 ÖN Training Center

-Register-Dat ei

Basic Elements of STM-1

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Objectives
The participant is able to

outline the structure of the synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH)

list and describe the elements of an STM-1 signal

Contents
1 Elements of an STM-1 Signal 3
1.1 Container C 4
1.2 Virtual Container VC 5
1.3 Administrative Unit AU 6
1.4 Administrative Unit Group AUG 6
1.5 Tributary Unit TU 7
1.6 Tributary Unit Group TUG 8

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1 Elements of an STM-1 Signal

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1.1 Container C
Prior to its transmission in the STM-1 frame, every piece of tributary information,
whether plesiochronous or synchronous, is interleaved in containers (fig. 1).
The term container C describes a defined network-synchronized transmission
capacity. The container size is given in bytes. This byte total is provided every 125 µs
as container transmission capacity. The defined container sizes are tailored to the
current plesiochronous signals.
The following containers are distinguished:

Designation Signal to be transmitted

C-11 1 544 kbit/s
C-12 2 048 kbit/s
C-2 6 312 kbit/s
C-3 44 736 kbit/s
or 34 368 kbit/s
C-4 139 264 kbit/s

The tributary information must be fitted into these containers. This is done with bit-
by-bit and byte-by-byte justification for plesiochronous signals, by means of purely
positive justification as well as negative/zero/justification.
The container includes:
1. Pure tributary information (e.g. PDH signal)
2. Fixed justification bytes and bits (fixed stuffing) for approximate timing
alignment. These bytes (or bits) are always without information content and are
used to approximately match the bit rate of the PDH signal to the basically higher
container bit rate. The precise bit rate alignment which follows are performed
with single justification opportunity bits.
3. Justification opportunity bits for precise timing alignment. These bits can be
used as tributary bits or justification bits as required.
4. Justification control bits to notify the receiver whether the justification
opportunity bits is an information bit or a justification bit.

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1.2 Virtual Container VC

A path overhead (POH) is added to each container C (Fig. 3). Together with its
associated POH, the container C is designated a virtual container VC and routed as a
non-modified entity via a through-connected path in the network.
The POH carries supplementary information ensuring the reliable transport of the
container from signal source to destination. It is added at the start of the path when
the VC is set up and first interpreted, and at the end of the path when the container
is cleared down. The POH includes information on the supervision and maintenance
of a path switched in the network.
Depending on its size, one virtual container can either be transmitted alone in the
STM-1 frame or otherwise interleaved in a larger VC, which is directly transported in
the STM-1.
A distinction is made between higher-order virtual containers (HO) and lower-order
containers (LO).
All containers transmitted in one „larger“ container are termed LO containers. LO VC
describes VC-11, VC-12, and VC-2. VC-3 is described as a LO VC if transmitted in a
VC-4.
Those containers transmitted directly in the STM-1 frame are termed HO containers.
VC-4 is a HO VC. The same designation applies to a directly transmitted VC-3.

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1.3 Administrative Unit AU

The higher-order virtual containers VC-4 and VC-3 are transmitted directly in the
STM-1 frame.
In this case the pointers (AU-PTR block) embedded in the STM-1 frame record the
phase relationship between the frame and the respective virtual container. That
component of the STM-1 frame within which the VC is able to „float“ is termed
administrative unit (AU). The corresponding pointer, described as AU pointer,
likewise counts as part of the AU. Three 3-byte AU pointers are included in the first 9
bytes of the 4th row of the STM-1 frame. A distinction is made between the AU-4
and AU-3.
It is possible to transmit the following AU in the STM-1 frame:
either 1 x AU-4 or
3 x AU-3.
Transmission of the VC-3 is possible either directly (AU-3) in the STM-1 or directly via
an AU-4. In the latter case, 3 x VC-3 must be interleaved in one VC-4 (see TU-3,
section 4).

1.4 Administrative Unit Group AUG

Several AU are byte-interleaved, i.e. multiplexed byte-by-byte, to one AU group
(AUG). The AUG is a frame-synchronized structure corresponding to the STM-1
without SOH. If the STM-1 SOH is added to the AUG, an STM-1 is produced.
An AUG can be composed either of 1 x AU-4 or 3 x AU-3.

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1.5 Tributary Unit TU

With the exception of the VC-4, all VC can be interleaved in a larger VC and
transported in the STM-1. The „smaller“ VC can generally float in phase terms inside
the „larger“ (higher-order) VC. For this purpose a pointer establishing the phase
relationship between the two VC must be positioned at a fixed location in the higher-
order VC. Tributary unit TU is the term used to describe the component of the
higher-order container inside which the embedded LO VC can vary plus the
corresponding pointer (TU pointer).
The following TU are distinguished: TU-11, TU-12, TU-2, TU-3.

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1.6 Tributary Unit Group TUG

Before being interleaved in the higher-order container, the TU are combined in one
group, i.e. byte-interleaved. Such a group is termed a TUG (tributary unit group).
The following TUG has been defined: TUG-2 and TUG-3.

Container C-11 C-12 C-2 C-3 C-4

size (bytes) 25 34 106 756 2340
bit rate (kbit/s) 1600 2176 6784 48384 149760

Virtual container: VC-11 VC-12 VC-2 VC-3 VC-4

size (bytes) 26 35 107 765 2349
bit rate (kbit/s) 1664 2240 6848 48960 150336

Tributary unit: TU-11 TU-12 TU-2 TU-3

size (bytes) 27 36 108 768
bit rate (kbit/s) 1728 2304 6912 49152

Tributary unit group: TUG-2 TUG-3

size (bytes) 108 774
bit rate (kbit/s) 6912 49536

Administrative unit: AU-3 AU-4

size (bytes) 786 2358
bit rate (kbit/s) 50304 150912

Administrative unit AUG

group:
size (bytes) 2358
bit rate (kbit/s) 150912

Fig. 1 Container sizes and bit rates

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STM-1 AUG AU4 VC4 C4 139 264 kbit/s

AU3 TUG3 TU3 VC3

34 368 kbit/s
VC3 C3
44 736 kbit/s

TUG2 TU2 VC2 C2 6 312 kbit/s

TU12 VC12 C12 2 048 kbit/s

ETSI/ANSI Bitrates
TU11 VC11 C11 1 544 kbit/s
ANSI Bitrates
+AU4PTR +TUn PTR +POH

Fig. 2 Synchronous Digital Hierarchy

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