Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode switching system for improving switching throughput and averting complicated and difficult timing design. In operation, synchronous cell strings from external transmission lines are converted to asynchronous cell strings which are switched by a space-division switch array. The switched asynchronous cell strings are reconverted to synchronous cell strings for output onto external transmission lines. The space-division switch array comprises a plurality of unit switches in stages, each unit switch having input terminals and output terminals. The unit switches each include a timing control circuit that causes a switching operation to start upon detecting two states concurrently: a stored state of a cell to be switched, and a storage-ready state of a destination for the switched cell. The scheme allows the system to operate in an asynchronous manner.

Abstract: A communication device (10) includes a number of input/output modules (12) coupled to a switch control module (14) using an interconnect (40) and to a redundant switch control module (16) using a redundant interconnect (42). Each interconnect (40) and redundant interconnect (42) includes a control interconnect (44) and a data interconnect (46). The control interconnect (44) establishes control information for transferring a cell in the communication device (10) and the data interconnect (46) performs the cell transfer.

Abstract: This invention appropriately regulates or controls a simultaneous communication between different communication methods. When a request of a voice communication is made with respect to a communication terminal 4 which is currently busy with a packet communication from a communication terminal 1, a voice incoming signal is generated at a voice line controller 20. Then, a communication terminal state request is output from the voice line controller 20. This is transmitted to a data base 30 through a data exchange device 21. Then, the data base 30 reads voice line memory AB, packet line memory PB and transmits the same as a communication terminal state response to the voice line controller 20 through the data exchange device 21. As a consequence, the voice line controller 20 can know the communication state of the communication terminal 4 and determines whether or not the voice communication circuit should be connected based on it.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for implementing the physical interface in a network element connected to a packet network such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network. With the solution of the invention, the physical interface functions can be integrated on one chip for more than one network port. The physical interface is provided between port bit streams at media speed and word data flow transferred onto/from a bus which is under the control of the network equipment. The solution of the invention includes grouping logics and storage elements by islands of more than one port. Furthermore, the logics and storage elements for statistical counting operations can be grouped for a processing generalized to all ports.

Abstract: In one embodiment of a multi-connection management method, a management area is prepared for each of the interfaces. A call control memory stores the management information of a leaf interface, statuses of connections, leaf interface information and link information. A whole leaf interface management area is stored with the link information of the leaf management areas. The leaf management area for each interface is stored with the information of the corresponding interface and the link information. In another embodiment, connection status for a fixed-connection communication of a multicast is confirmed. This includes a communication controller that receives a status confirmation demand message sent by terminals and demands a multicast server for information collection, if the message is the status confirmation demand message which is effective for the protocol regulations.

Abstract: A first optical transmission device 1 is connected to a second optical transmission device 2, and the second optical transmission device 2 is connected to a third optical transmission device 3, via a plurality of optical transmission lines. Transfer data and a clock signal synchronous with the transfer data are transferred in parallel from the first optical transmission device 1 to the second optical transmission device 2 through the plurality of optical transmission lines. Transfer data and a clock signal synchronous with the transfer data are transferred in parallel from the second optical transmission device 2 to the third optical transmission device 3 through the plurality of optical transmission lines. The second optical transmission device 2 stops outputting data to the third optical transmission device 3 when the clock signal transferred from the first optical transmission device 1 cannot be detected.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for routing multicast packets in a subnetwork so as to conserve bandwidth in at least some of the network segments or collision domains of the subnetwork. In particular, multicast packets are only retransmitted in the network segments that are on a path to a host that is a member of the multicast group of hosts to which the multicast packet is destined.

Abstract: A method of communicating between radio units (10, 11, 12, 13) by transferring cells over a communication channel having repeating frames. A matrix (200) of frame positions is maintained, where a first dimension (X) of the matrix corresponds to positions in a frame and a second dimension (Y) corresponds to frames in a sequence of frames. A value (P) is associating with each frame position, representative of a minimum repeat number. A cell is allocated to a position in a frame and the cell allocation is repeated every Nth frame where N is an integer multiple of the repeat number (P). In another embodiment, a cell is transmitted at the selected position in the frame and an indicator is included in the transmitted cell, where the indicator represents an integer value N. Subsequent cells are transmitted at the selected position every Nth frame.

Abstract: A matrix time switch apparatus for use in a small capacity switching system comprises a matrix having N.times.N voice memories, N being a positive integer greater than 1, wherein each voice memory in each row of the matrix is attached to a corresponding time switch unit in a first group to simultaneously store subscriber data from the corresponding time switch unit in the first group and each voice memory in each column of the matrix is attached to a corresponding time switch unit in a second group to transmit the subscriber data retrieved from each voice memory in each column to the corresponding time switch unit in the second group, and a set of N control memories, wherein each control memory controls the transmission of the subscriber data retrieved in a voice memory selected in the column.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the limitations of prior art ALLNODE switches by including dual priority, adaptive, path seeking, and flash-flood functionalities in a single ALLNODE switch. The switch of the present invention further includes a selection device responsive to a selection signal for enabling the selection of the mode of switch operation from any one of the foregoing functionalities. The selection signal is applied to the switch in a number of different ways including: the transmission of a command over the data path interface to the switch; the transmission of a command over special purpose serial or parallel control lines; or via hardwiring. Thus, the selection of functionality for the switch is capable of being made in either a dynamic or static fashion. The present invention further comprises two new high performance networks utilizing the selectable function ALLNODE switch.

Abstract: A controller for a nonblocking broadcast switching network comprising an input stage, an output stage, and a middle stage. The input stage has N.sub.1 or n.sub.1 r.sub.1 input ports and r.sub.1 switches, where n.sub.1 .gtoreq.2 and r.sub.1 .gtoreq.1 and are integers. The network also includes an output stage. The output stage has N.sub.2 or n.sub.2 r.sub.2 output ports and r.sub.2 switches, where n.sub.2 .gtoreq.2 and r.sub.1 .gtoreq.1 and are integers. There is also a middle stage. The middle stage has m switches, where ##EQU1## The m switches are in communication with the r.sub.1 switches and r.sub.2 switches. The middle stage of m switches has L inputs, where L.gtoreq.r.sub.1 and is an integer, and J outputs, where J.gtoreq.r.sub.2 and is an integer, corresponding to the n.sub.1 input ports and n.sub.2 output ports, x or fewer of the m switches, where 1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.

Abstract: A switching matrix routes each received input to a unique output port. Each input specifies an output port as a destination. For each output port, a set of inputs contending for the output port is determined. A control for correctly routing selects an input from each set of contending inputs and routes it to the correct output port of the switching matrix. If no input specifies an output port as a destination, that output port is designated as an available output port. A control for misrouting determines the set of available output ports and the set of inputs that have not been correctly routed by the control for correctly routing. The control for misrouting then misroutes each remaining input to one of the available output ports of the switching matrix. The switching matrix may provide status signals for use by the switch in tracking the location of the correctly routed and misrouted inputs.

Abstract: A switch for communicating short control messages and longer data messages. The control and data switch comprises separate resources for control messages and for data messages, while sharing communication links. Each input port of the switch has a separate control message input FIFO buffer and a data message input FIFO buffer. These buffers allow a control message to preempt a data message that is currently in progress over a link. If there are control message words waiting to be transmitted over the link, they are given prior over any data message words that are ready for transmission over the same link. Preemption of an ongoing data message by a control message takes place without disrupting the data message, other than delaying it.

Abstract: A channel allocation system for selecting the earliest available switch port and time division multiplexed channel for an outgoing transmission in a network of switch elements interconnected by a series of communications paths. An availability table for maintaining the free/busy state of each channel on each switch port in the switch element is provided. Means are additionally provided for limiting the search of the availability table for the earliest available channel to certain desired switch ports and channels.