Generic Framing Procedure (GFP): A Next Generation Transport Protocol for High Speed Data Networks

Next generation optical networks require a light-weight traffic adaptation mechanism to map electrical signals into a bit or byte synchronous optical channel. The mechanism must be low complexity to support native signals operating either at 2.5Gbps, 10Gbps or above. The Generic Framing Procedure (GFP) is specially designed to fulfill this role. Here we provide an overview of the problem space, GFP and of target applications.