US Patent 7912096 Add/drop multiplexer and interface

An add/drop multiplexer where a first signal converter converts first-low-order-group signals received from DSn network, into high-order-group signals, which are transferred to SDH (SONET) network and to which second-low-order-group signals, slower in transmission speed than the first-low-order-group signals are added. A second signal converter converts high-order-group signals, received from SDH (SONET) network, into first-low-order-group signals. A selector selectively outputs first-low-order-group signals received from the DSn network, or first-low-order-group signals obtained by the second signal converter, as the input signals to the first signal converter.