Abstract: A method and system for finding a path through a communications matrix represents the assignment of a center stage switch through an input switch to input gates by an input stage array, center stage switch connections between an input stage switch and an output stage switch by a center stage array, and output stage switch connections to output gates by an output stage array, as well as representing idle input switch links to the center stage switches by an idle input array and idle output switch links from the center stage switches by an idle output array.

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 method and system to immediately connect and reswitch connection configurations through a rearrangeable communications matrix that immediately connects an input gate causing rearrangeably blocked condition through the communications matrix to an output gate through a dedicated or extra switching element of the center. With the rearrangeably blocked condition, the method and system select a set of switching elements pairs from the center stage switches to form a plurality of possible connections from the input gates to the output gates that excludes the dedicated switching element. The method and system then determines from the possible connections a minimum rearrangement connection configuration that excludes the dedicated switch and that requires the minimum number of rearrangements of existing communications matrix connections.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the minimum number of rearrangements for connecting an input gate to an output gate through a rearrangeably blocked communications matrix represent the communications matrix by a square matrix having a first dimension that represents the input stage switches of the communication matrix, and a second dimension that represents the output stage switches of the communications matrix, and wherein the square matrix has cells each representing an intersection of the first dimension with the second dimension and indicating a possible center stage switch connection through of the communications matrix.