Abstract: A method and system for hitlessly rearranging a communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals forms an immediate and temporary connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch of the communications matrix. The method and system use a predetermined center stage switch other than the dedicated center stage switch to establish a parallel connection configuration from the predetermined input gate to the predetermined output gate. At the input gates, the parallel connection configuration forms a head-end-bridge. At the output gates, the parallel connection configuration forms a receive-end-switch. Once parallel connections exist through the predetermined center stage switch and the dedicated center stage switch, the connections through the dedicated center stage switch are disconnected to free the dedicated center stage switch.

Abstract: A digital switching system for establishing safety communications between N junctors is intended to guard against the potential danger of generalized failure which lies in the use of a central control unit and digital connection network for carrying out exchanges of information between junctors. Accordingly, each junctor is directly coupled to the N-1 other junctors of the system and is provided with its own control unit and its own digital connection network in order to enable said junctor itself to select the particular information which it is desired to receive from the N-1 other junctors. This system is primarily applicable to air and ocean traffic control.