Switching Principles

DIGITAL SWITCHING
If we look back for a moment at the time when telephony was young,our exchanges were operated manually. Nowadays we have completely automatic switching systems based on electronic technology. Here we shall only look at systems for digital switching.

In "Digital Switching Systems", two types of switches will be presented i.e. the time switch and space switch, together with combinations of these. To round it off, two main principles for connection of subscriber lines to the switching network in the exchanges will be covered. Traffic between different exchanges in the network presumes that these can send and receive signalling information (inter-exchange signalling). The demands on the switching systems are extremely high, switching of calls must be fast and error-free. In order to achieve this, control systems are needed which are both efficient and reliable. Switching Principles Digital exchanges establish connections by re-arranging the 8 bit binary codes of various telephone signals as specified by the call request

Digital Switching Network

Digital switching networks comprise the time, space-time and space switches . These switches can be used individually or in any desired combination. A common combination is the time/space/time configuration. The combination actually used depends on the switching system concept and the size of the exchange.
Time stage Space stage Time stage

33

33

33

33

33

33

There are two types of Switching devices:

i) The Time Switch Time Switch

ii) The Space Switch

The time switch can switch any 8 bit PCM binary code from the incoming highway to any time slot on the outgoing highway (full availability). For this, the incoming binary codes are written into the data memory cyclically. As specified by the call request stored in the control memory, the code words are read out again.

TIME SWITCHING
Cyclic Write-in Incoming highway 8-bit PCM words

Arbitrary controlled read-out

tE1 tE2 tE3 tE4

A1
Memory location 1 Memory location 2 Memory location 3

tA2 tA4 tA1 tA3

Outgoing highway 8-bit PCM words

tE4 tE3 tE2 tE1

A4 A3 A2 A1

A2

125 s period (Incoming time slots)

A3

tA4 tA3 tA2 tA1

A2 A4 A1 A3

A4
Memory location 4

125 s period (outgoing time slots) Control memory Control addresses 3 (^ = no. of data 1 4 memory location) 2

tA1 tA2 tA3 tA4

Time Switch Features

- Switching process: The PCM word time slots are interchanged. - Non- blocking: All incoming PCM words can be forwarded when the number of time slots on the incoming highway < number of time slots on the outgoing highway. - Full availability: Any incoming PCM word can be forwarded to any outgoing time slot. - Efficient and small: the

The memory and control elements consist of large-scale integrated semiconductor components.

Space Switch
The space switch can switch any 8 bit PCM binary code from the incoming highways to any outgoing highway without change of time slot.
Incoming Highway t3 A3 t2 A2 t1 A1 Space stage Electronic switch

&
2
B3 B2 B1

& &

& &

&
3
C3 C2 C1 Control line Control memory t1 t2 t3 2 1 3

&
3 2 1

&
1 3 2

&
Number of incoming highway

Outgoing Highway
7

The through-connection is performed by means of electronic switches (AND gate). The exact sequence in which the AND gates are to be turned ON or OFF, is indicated in the control memory. For each time slot (t1 - t3), the AND gate is switched again.
t3 A3 t2 A2 t1

&
2
Input B3 B2

&
& &
3 2 1 3

&
& &
2
C1 A1

&
3
C3 C2

&
t1 t2 2 1

t3
Output
8

3
B1

SPACE SWITCH

Space Switch Features

- Switching process:

The PCM word retain same time slot, but can be allocated to any outgoing highway.
- Non- blocking:

In an arrangement with m incoming and n outgoing highway, where n >m .

- Full availability:

Any incoming PCM word can be forwarded to any outgoing highway.

- Efficient and small:

The space switch consists of large-scale integrated electronic circuits.

10

Space-time Switch
The space-time switch is a high-speed variation of the time Switch. Because of its high operating speed, it can switch an 8 bit PCM binary code from several incoming highways to any time slot of several outgoing highways. To achieve this, PCM binary codes of the incoming highways must be combined (multiplexed) and extended to the data memory. This means that the highway from the multiplexer to the data memory has a bit rate which is several times higher than that of the incoming highway. In the example shown, the highway from the multiplexer to the data memory has a bit rate which is four times as high as the bit rate of a single incoming highway. Following the switching, the demultiplexer distributes the PCM binary codes to four outgoing highways operating at the original bit rate. In all other respects, the space-time switch works on the same principles as the time switch. It also enables that any PCM binary codes on the incoming side is switched to any time slot on any of the four outgoing highways without blocking (full availability).

11

SPACE TIME SWITCH

12

SPACE TIME SWITCH

13

Call example in PSTN

Following steps are involved in the establishment and subsequent release of a call on PSTN:
DETECTION OF HOOK OFF 2. PROVISION OF DIAL TONE 3. DIALING OF DIGITS 4. RESERVATION OF RESOURCES FOR CALL 5. RINGING OF CALLED PARTY AND RING BACK TO CALLING PARTY 6. DETECTION OF ANSWER FROM CALLED PARTY 7. NECESSARY CHARGING INITIATION 8. SPEECH 9. INITIATION OF CALL TERMINATION FROM EITHER END 10. CALL END, RELEASE OF ALL RESERVED RESOURCES 11. NECESSARY ACTION REGARDING BILLING
1.
14

GENERAL CALL SETUP

A 1 Off Hook 2 Dial Tone 3 Digits Dial 5b Ring Back 7 Charging Started 8 Conversation / Speech 9 Call End 10 Release Resources 11 Charging Stopped
15

Local Exchange 4 Siezure

Local Exchange 5a Ringing 6 Off Hook

10 Release Resources

10 Release Resources