Abstract: The optical switch for fast cell-switching networks comprises an optical interconnection network (CM) and an electrical control network (CT). In order to fully exploit optical component capabilities and to overcome the constraints imposed by operating speed limits of electronic components, each input (IN1 . . . INk) of the interconnection network (CM) is associated with units (PAC1 . . . PACk) forming aggregates of cells which are to follow a same path through the interconnection network and time-compressing the aggregates, and each output (OU1 . . . OUk) is associated with units (PAD1 . . . PADk) for the time expansion of the aggregates and separation of the aggregate cells.

Abstract: A node for a fast packet-switching network in optical-electrical technology comprises an optical switching matrix and electrical control equipment which processes the signalling and the information packet headers. More particularly, the control equipment updates the label and, depending on such a label, searches for the routing through the node. A centralized node controller processes the signalling, while a distributed processing system processes the packet headers and routes the packets through the network. For all communications in progress, the distributed processing system periodically forwards routing requests to an electrical self-routing switching matrix associated with the optical matrix. When a connection path has been found between an input and an output of the electrical matrix, the same path is reproduced in the optical matrix and the packets are transferred to the node output through the optical matrix.

Abstract: The equipment consists of one or more voice units (U1 . . . Un) each connected to a certain number of independent lines (E1 . . . En) connected to a telephone network (RT). Each unit presents an announcement data base (AA1 . . . AAn) which contains all possible announcements to be supplied to the subscribers, a computer (EL1 . . . ELn) which manages the research of an announcement in the data base (AA1 . . . AAn) and its sending to the subscribers (UT1 . . . UTx) and an interface (IEC1 . . . IECn) towards the network (RT) for the temporary storage of the announcements or part of them before the sending, the processing of the telephone signalling, the possible conversion into analog form, and the equipment supervision.

Abstract: Sensors SE and actuators AT electrically linked to groups of circuit components to be monitored, e.g. in a central office of a telephone system, are connected to a preprocessor, interfacing them with a microprocessor, which detects an incoming request signal from any group and, after evaluation, sends it on to the microprocessor, causing the latter to emit a confirmation signal which the preprocessor transmits to the corrsponding group actuator. A component-identification signal received from that group and evaluated by the preprocessor is then forwarded to the microprocessor which thereupon, through the preprocessor, instructs the corresponding component actuator to send out an enabling signal to the component thus identified. A response by that component, in the form of an error signal, also undergoes evaluation in the preprocessor and is then passed on to the microprocessor where it is classified and read out to a printer.