4201891 : Expandable digital switching network

ABSTRACT:   A distributed control digital switching network is configured as a group switch having a plurality of stages of multiport single sided switching elements for selectively interconnecting a plurality of input terminals via the transmission paths established through the network by path selection control signals which are multiplexed on common transmission links to and through the network together with digitally encoded data from the terminals on common transmission paths such that data is received phase asynchronously at each stage of the network and is either coupled to a higher order stage of the network or folded back through the network by reflection to interconnect terminals switched by the network. The single-sided switching elements are selectively operable as single-sided or multi-sided in accordance with their position in the network.

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41 patents reference this one

Patent No. Inventor Issued Title 3749845 Fraser 7 /1973 DIGITAL DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM 3856993 Closs et al. 12 /1974 TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEX EXCHANGE 3912873 Skaperda 10 /1975 Multiple fault tolerant digital switching system for an automatic telephone system 4025725 Euler 5 /1977 Telecommunication switching network having a multistage reversed trunking scheme and switching on a four wire basis 4045617 Schlichte 8 /1977 Telecommunication switching network having a multistage reversed trunking arrangement 4064486 Faber 12 /1977 Data communications loop synchronizer 4074072 Christensen et al. 2 /1978 Multiprocessor control of a partitioned switching network by control communication through the network EXEMPLARY CLAIM(s): Show all 16 claims We claim: 15. An expandable switching network comprising: a plurality of stages of multiport switching elements operable within said network as single sided or multisided, each port of each switching element including means for adapting said port for operation as an inlet or as an outlet and each of said switching elements including means to selectively reflect phase asynchronously received frames of digitally encoded traffic in a plurality of channels entering any inlet of any port of said switching element back to any inlet of any port of said switching element and to phase synchronously interconnect any outlet port of said switching element to any outlet port of said switching element; and means for selecting the inlets and outlets of each port of each of said switching elements for single sided or multisided operation within said network such that said inlet and outlet ports either selectively couple traffic through said switching element to a switching element in a higher numbered stage of said network or fold said traffic into the network by reflecting from a higher numbered stage to a lower numbered stage of said network. RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS: none FOREIGN APPLICATION PRIORITY DATA: none FOREIGN REFERENCES: none OTHER REFERENCES: none PRIMARY/ASSISTANT EXAMINERS: Brown; Thomas W.; ADDED TO DATABASE: Aug. 22, 1996