SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MULTIPLEXING NETWORK ALARM SIGNALS

A method of monitoring a plurality of network elements relating to a network includes receiving a X bit signal indicative of an alarm condition relating to one of the plurality of network elements and generating a Y bit signal representative of the alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network elements. The method further includes transmitting the Y bit signal over the network to a network monitoring location in an overhead portion of a data frame. According to the method, Y is greater than X.