OC-3 DELIVERY UNIT; SWITCHING MATRIX INTERFACE

A switching matrix interface for a delivery unit that transports network data on telecommunications media to a switching matrix. The interface shares a “common building block” format with other modules of the delivery unit. Specifically, a bus interface port of the interface transports network data from the delivery unit (prior to switching) and back to the delivery unit (after switching) in a common data format. Buffers provide timing and align for transport to and from the switching matrix. The interface provides a path verification scheme using a superframe format for path integrity bits.