Abstract: A communication apparatus includes at least one input port, multiple output ports, at least one Serial-to-Parallel (S/P) converter and at least one Parallel-to-Serial (P/S) converter. The S/P converter is operative to receive from the input port an input data stream that is to be cross-connected to a destination output port, and to separate the input data stream into multiple sub-streams. Each of the switching planes includes at least one input for receiving a respective sub-stream from the S/P converter; multiple outputs, each output associated with a respective one of the output ports; and switching circuitry, which is configured to switch the respective sub-stream to the output that is associated with the destination output port. The P/S converter is coupled to the outputs of the switching planes so as to combine the multiple sub-streams switched by the switching circuitry into a combined output data stream at the destination output port.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes at least one input port, multiple output ports, at least one Serial-to-Parallel (S/P) converter and at least one Parallel-to-Serial (P/S) converter. The S/P converter is operative to receive from the input port an input data stream that is to be cross-connected to a destination output port, and to separate the input data stream into multiple sub-streams. Each of the switching planes includes at least one input for receiving a respective sub-stream from the S/P converter; multiple outputs, each output associated with a respective one of the output ports; and switching circuitry, which is configured to switch the respective sub-stream to the output that is associated with the destination output port. The P/S converter is coupled to the outputs of the switching planes so as to combine the multiple sub-streams switched by the switching circuitry into a combined output data stream at the destination output port.

Abstract: A method for increasing bandwidth utilization of a transmission channel having a first bandwidth capacity and operative at a first transmission rate, the method including the steps of providing one or more input bit streams each having a transmission rate that does not exceed that of the first transmission rate, dividing the one or more input bit streams into a plurality of sub-streams, each having a bandwidth lower than the first bandwidth capacity, selecting a group of sub-streams out of the plurality of sub-streams which group has a combined bandwidth just lower than the first bandwidth capacity, carrying the selected group of sub-streams over the transmission channel, and assembling the selected group of sub-streams into an output bit stream.

Abstract: A switching system for a telecommunications network, including a switching matrix, a transport interface for receiving signals from a plurality of I/O ports, the signals being arranged in channels of at least a first and a second format, a plurality of cross-connections for switching the signals between the I/O ports via the switching matrix; and a server operatively associated with the switching matrix and including format exchanging circuitry operable to receive a signal arranged in the first format and to rearrange the signal into the second format, thus producing a converted signal, and to transmit the converted signal to the switching matrix for eventual output.

Abstract: An electronic digital signal cross-connect system (EDSX) is provided which includes a plurality of input terminals for respectively receiving bipolar 3-level input signals having a predetermined bit rate, and a plurality of output terminals for respectively providing bipolar 3-level output signals having the same predetermined bit rate. An interface circuit is provided which has an input section coupled to the input terminals to receive the bipolar 3-level input signals and an output section coupled to the output terminals to output the bipolar 3-level output signals. The input section of the interface circuit is constructed to include converting circuitry for converting the bipolar 3-level input signals into predetermined coded signals. Correspondingly, the output section of the interface circuit includes converting circuitry for decoding the predetermined coded signals into bipolar 3-level output signals.