 the new offset. For AU-3 frames, a negative justification octet appears in the individual H3 octet of the AU-3 frame containing inverted D-bits. Subsequent pointers will contain the new offset. The following summarizes the rules (Ref. 7) for interpreting the AU-n pointers: 1. During normal operation, the pointer locates the start of the VC-n within the AU- n frame. 2. Any variation from the current pointer value is ignored unless a consistent new value is received three times consecutively or it is preceded by one; see rules 3, 4, or 5 (below). Any consistent new value received three times consecutively overrides (i.e., takes priority over) rules 3 and 4. 3. If the majority of I-bits of the pointer word are inverted, a positive justification operation is indicated. Subsequent pointer values shall be incremented by one. 4. If the majority of D-bits of the pointer word are inverted, a negative justification operation is indicated. Subsequent pointer values shall be decremented by one. 5. If the NDF (new data flag) is set to 1001, then the coincident pointer value shall replace the current one at the offset indicated by the new pointer values unless the receiver is in a state that corresponds to a loss of pointer. Administrative Units in the STM-N. The STM-N payload can support N AUGs, where each AUG may consist of one AU-4 or three AU-3s. The VC-n associated with each AUG-n does not have a fixed phase with respect to the STM-N frame. The location of the first octet in the VC-n is indicated by the AU-n pointer. The AU-n pointer is in a fixed location in the STM-N frame. This is illustrated in Figures 19.17, 19.18, 19.22, and 19.23. The AU-4 may be used to carry, via the VC-4, a number of TU-ns (n = 1, 2, 3) forming a two-stage multiplex. An example of this arrangement is shown in Figure 19.22. The VC-n associated with each Tu-n does not have a fixed phase relationship with respect to the start of the VC-4. The TU-n pointer is in a fixed location in the VC-4 and the location of the first octet of the VC-n is indicat