| CPC H04L 49/90 (2013.01) [H04L 47/34 (2013.01); H04L 69/22 (2013.01); H04L 69/28 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A method comprising:
determining, at a de-mapper configured to receive data packets over a network, that at least one data packet scheduled to be played out is not available;
inserting an idle data packet into a buffer at the de-mapper for each of the at least one data packet that is not available, wherein a size of the idle data packet is equal to a size of a Radio over Ethernet (RoE) frame;
continuously monitoring, at the de-mapper, a packet playout process to (1) identify last valid data packet played out, (2) a number of idle data packets inserted, and (3) a number of data packets currently stored in the buffer; and
based on the continuous monitoring, determining that insertion of idle data packets into the buffer should be stopped and a valid data packet to be played out; wherein inserting the idle data packet and the valid data packet ensure link integrity in data packet transmission between two network elements in the network.
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