Categorizing switching

SPC: Stored program control

Common Control System

Common Control System

Principle of Common Control Common control system was first introduced in crossbar exchanges. The common control can be traced in director system facilitate the uniform numbering of subscribers in multi-exchange area. Uniform numbering is that to call a particular subscriber ,the same number is dialed ,no matter from which exchange the call is originated. Consider multi-exchange network shown, it is not fully connected network . If a subscriber in exchange A wants to call a subscriber F , the call is routed at least three exchanges. Two routes are possible A - B - C - J - F and A - I - H - G - F

Common Control System

Common Control System

1. 2.

Let 1457 be subscriber to be called in exchange F from exchange A . The called subs can be reached by dialing either of following sequence . For route A - B- C- J- F 01-04-03-01 1457 For route A I H G F 02-05-01-02 1457 If routing is done by exchange and uniform numbering scheme is presented, the numbering may consist of An exchange identifier. Subscriber line identifier within the exchange. The exchange must have capable of receiving and storing the dialed digits ,translating the exchange identifier in the routing digits and transmitting the routing and subs line identifier digits to switching network. This function is perform by director system in Strowger Exchange.

It involved a device (the director) which received dialled digits and automatically translated them to route calls between exchanges in the city; in modern parlance a director incorporated a register-translator and a digit store. Directors were applied to step-by-step switching equipment; Each subscriber was given a seven digit number where the first three digits corresponded to the local exchange name, and were chosen to give the name a meaningful mnemonic. This was done by linking each number on the telephone dial to letters. 1 2 ABC 3 DEF 4 GHI 5 JKL 6 MN 7 PRS 8 TUV 9 WXY 0 OQ Thus a subscriber in Wimbledon could be allocated the number WIMbledon 1234; the first three letters, written in capitals, indicated the code to be dialled. The actual trains of pulses from the subscriber's dial would, of course, be 946 1234. As the code (946 in this example) was the same from any telephone in the London director area, this uniformity is an example of a linked numbering scheme.

Director

Common Control System As soon as the translated digits are transmitted , the director is free to process an other call and is not involve in maintaining the circuit for conversation. Call processing is independent of switching network. Functional diagram of common control system is shown in , the control functions in switching system placed in four broad categories. 1. Event Monitoring 2. Call Processing 3. Charging 4. Operation and Maintenance.

Common Control System: Event Monitoring

Event occurring outside the exchange at the line units ,trunks , junctors and inter exchange signaling sender/receiver units are all monitoring by the control system. Typical events include call request and call release signals at line units. The occurrence of events are signaled by operating relays which initiate control action. The control subsystem may operates relays in the junctors senders /receivers and line units and command these units to perform certain functions. Event monitoring may be distributed . The line unit may initiate control action on occurrence of certain line events. When subs goes off hook .the event is sensed , the calling location is determined and dial tone is extended and register finder is activated to find free register .

Common Control System

Identity of calling line is used to determine the category and class of service to which subscriber belongs.

Call Processing
A register is chosen which send out dial tone to concerned subscriber . As soon as initial digits (usually 2 to 5 ) which identify the exchange are received in the register , they are passed on to initial translator for processing ,similarly the register continue to receive the remaining digits . The initial translator determine the route for call through network and decide whether call should put through or not.
It also determine charging method and rates applicable to subscriber.

Common Control System

Decision such as service information of subscriber as follow : 1. Call barring : A subscriber may be barred from making certain calls e.g. STD or ISD barring. 2. Call Priority: When exchange or network is overloaded, only calls from subscribers identified as priority calls may be put through. 3. Call Charging : It is possible to define different charging rules for different subscribers in same exchange. 4. Origin based Charging : Routing or destination of certain calls may depend on geographical location of calling subscribers. 5. No dialing calls: These calls are routed to predetermined number without calling party to dial e.g. hot line connection.

 If the call is destined to a subscribers within the same exchange, the digits are processed by final translator . The translation to directory number to equipment number take place at that stage . The final translator may determine line unit to which call must be connected and category of called line, for example there may be no charge for emergency numbers or fault repair service line. Administration of Telephone Exchange involves activities such as new subs line and trunk into service . Modifying subscriber service entitlement and changing routing plans based on network status. Control subsystem may facilitates such administrative functions.

Common Control System

Common Control System

Administration of Telephone Exchange involves activities such as new subs line and trunk into service . Modifying subscriber service entitlement and changing routing plans based on network status. Control subsystem may facilitates such administrative functions. Maintenance Activities May includes supervision and proper functioning of exchange equipment , subscribers lines and trunks. It should be possible for maintenance personnel to access any line or trunk for performing tests and making measurements of different line parameters.

Crossbar Switch
More faster and sophisticated. Lattice of crossed bars that make and break the switch. Electromechanically activated. Magnets cause vertical and horizontal bars to cross each other and make contacts at coordinates determined by the number being called. Each switch typically has either 100 or 200 cross points. The lattice structure of cross bar switch has 10 horizontal select bars and either 10 or 20 vertical hold bars. The horizontal and vertical hold bars are activated by magnets.

Crossbar Switch
A crossbar switch (also known as cross point switch or matrix switch ) is switch connecting multiple inputs in to multiple outputs. Crossbar switch was invented in 1917 by G.A Batulander. The crossbar switch retain a set of contacts at each crosspoint. These are operated through horizontal and vertical bar magnets at the side of each switch. The switch with N inlets and N outlets needs 2N magnets . The magnets which operates horizontal bars called select magnets and which operates vertical bars are called hold magnets or bridge magnets.

Cross bar switching

The strowger switching system has been the basis of telephone switching for almost 70 years since its introduction in 1889. The major disadvantage of strowger system is its dependence on moving parts and contacts that are subject to wear and tear. Mechanical systems require regular maintenance and adjustments and for this purpose they must be located in places that are easily and speedily accessible by skilled technicians.

Cross bar switching

As the telephone network spread to remote areas, it became necessary to devise switching systems that would require less maintenance and little readjustment after installation. Efforts in this direction led to the invention of crossbar switching systems.

Principles of crossbar switching

The basic idea of crossbar switching system is to provide a matrix of n x m sets of contacts with only n + m activators or less to select one of the n x m sets of contacts. This form of switching is also known as the coordinate switching as the switching contacts are arranged in a xy-plane. A diagrammatic representation of a cross point switching matrix is 3X3 Crossbar.

Crossbar

Crosspoint detail horizontals

verticals

M1 wires A 1 1

M2

M3

22

M1 6

B
4 C 7 5 M2

9 M3

B 3x3 cross bar switching

 There is an array of horizontal and vertical wires shown by solid lines. A set of vertical and horizontal contact points are connected to these wires. The contact points form pairs, each pair consisting of a bank of three or four horizontal and a corresponding bank of vertical contact points. A contact point pair acts as a cross point switch and remains separated or open when not in use. The contact points are mechanically mounted (and electrically insulated) on a set of horizontal and vertical bar shown as dotted lines. The bars in turn, are attached to a set of electromagnets. When an electromagnet, say in the horizontal direction, is energized, the bar attached to it slightly rotates in such a way that the contact points attached to the bar move closer to its facing contact points but do not actually make any contact. Now, if an electromagnet in the vertical direction is energized, the corresponding bar rotates causing the contact points at the intersection of the two bar to close.

Principles of crossbar switching

AA

AB

AC

AD

AE

AF

A
BA BB BC BD BE BF

B
CA CB CC CD CE CF

C inlets
DA DB DC DD DE DF

D
EA EB EC ED EE EF

E
FA FB FC FD FE FF

F A B C D outlets 6x6 crossbar matrix E F

C Let us consider the establishment of the following o connections in sequence: A to C and B to E. First the horizontal bar A is energized. Then the vertical bar C is energized The crosspoint AC is latched and the conversation between A and C can now proceed. Suppose we now energize the horizontal bar of B to establish the connection B-E, the crosspoint BC may latch and B will be brought into the circuit of A-C. This is prevented by an energizing sequence for latching the crosspoints.

A crosspoint latches only if the horizontal bar is energized first and then the vertical bar.
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In order to establish the connection B-E, the vertical bar E need to be energized after the horizontal bar is energized. In this case the crosspoint AE may latch as the horizontal bar A has already been energized for establishing the the connection A-C. This should also be avoided and is done by deenergizing the horizontal bar A after the crosspoint is latched and making a suitable arrangement such that the latch is maintained even though the energisation in the horizontal direction is withdrawn. The crosspoint remains latched as long as the vertical bar E remains energized.
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Procedure for establishing a connection in a crossbar switch

1. Energize horizontal bar 2. Energize vertical bar 3. De-energize horizontal bar Or 1. Energize vertical bar 2. Energize horizontal bar 3. De-energize vertical bar

Crossbar Switch configuration In a non blocking crossbar configuration, there are N2 switching elements for N subscribers. When all the subscribers are engaged, only N/2 switches are actually used to establish connections A 1000 subscriber exchange would require 1 million crosspoint switches, Therefore ways and means have to be found to reduce the number of switch contacts for a given number of subscribers.

Crossbar Switch configuration

In the switching matrix, different switch points are used to establish a connection between 2 given subscribers, depending upon who initiates the call. When subscriber C wishes to call B , crosspoint CB is energized. When B initiates the call to C, the switch BC is used. In this case the crosspoint matrix reduces to a diagonal matrix with N2/2 switches. By designing suitable control mechanism, only 1 switch may be used to establish a connection between two subscribers, irrespective of which one of them initiates the call.

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Diagonal crosspoint matrix for 4 Subscribers

Matrix for 4 subscribers.

A diagonal connection matrix for 4 subscribers. The crosspoints in the diagonal connect the inlets and outlet of the same subscriber, which is not relevant. Hence these are eliminated. The number of crosspoints then reduces to N(N-1)/2 N(N-1)/2 is the number of links in a fully connected network. Energize horizontal bar first and then the vertical bar. It is a non blocking configuration.

Crossbar Switch configuration

N(N-1)/2 can be even very large number to handle practically. The cross bar hardware may be reduced by connecting two subscribers to a single bar and letting the bar turn both clockwise and anticlockwise directions and thus closing two different crosspoints contacts. With such an arrangement the number of crossbar reduces, but the number of crosspoint switches remains the same. In blocking crossbar switches, the number of vertical bars is less than the number of subscribers and determines the number of simultaneous calls that can be put through the switch. Consider the 8 x 3 Blocking switch . Let a connection be required to be established between the subscribers A and B. First the horizontal bar A is energized. Then one of the free vertical bar, say P, is energized. The crosspoint AP latches. Now if we energize the horizontal bar B, BP will not be latched as the P vertical is energized before B was energized. In order to be able to connect A to B, we need another vertical crossbar which should electrically correspond to the vertical bar P. In this case , the bar P is associated with the same electrical wire as the bar P.

P A B C D E F G H

 When P is energized after B, the cross point BP is latched and a connection between A and B is established. The sequence to be followed in establishing the A-B circuit may be summarized as: Energize horizontal A Energize free vertical P De- Energize horizontal A Energize horizontal B Energize vertical P De- Energize horizontal B We thus see that in a blocking configuration we need to operate four crossbars to establish a connection. The number of switches required is 2NK where N is the number of subscribers and K is the number of simultaneous circuits that can be supported. Another alternative is to follow a different sequence of energisation such that a contact is established with the use of only one vertical crossbar instead of two as described above Energize horizontal A and B Energize vertical P De- Energize horizontal A and B

Crossbar Switch configuration

Crossbar Switch configuration

Both blocking and non blocking type crossbar switches can support transfer lines. This is done by introducing additional vertical crossbars and crosspoint switches. The switch shown in 1st case is a nonblocking locally and has two transfer lines. In 2nd case blocking both locally and externally . The no: of crosspoints in first case N(N+L) The no: of crosspoints in 2nd case N(2K+L) N is no of subscribers , L is number of transfer lines, and K is the number of simultaneous calls that can be supported locally.

Crosspoint technology
The hardware of crossbar consists of crosspoints switches. Cost no of crosspoint switches Two technologies are prevalent for crosspoint design.
Crosspoints

Electromechanical

Electronic

Electromechanical crosspoints
Extensively used Switching time 1-10ms Two types miniswitches and reed relays Miniswitches are made up of precious metal like palladium (electrically quieter contacts) .Switching time is 8-10 ms Reed relay eliminate mechanical motion of bars in a crossbar system, hence more operating life of the system. It comprises of a pair of contacts made of a magnetic material sealed in a glass tube. Switching time is less than 1 ms.

Space Division Switches

smaller connected crossbar switches.
Theses are called space division switches.

For example, if we had 16 lines, we could have four crossbar switches each taking 4 lines. The output of the crossbar switches can themselves be fed into crossbar switches.

Pros and Cons of Space Division Switches

Because the space division switches use many smaller crossbar switches,
if one fails it can be easily replaced without disrupting all the calls.

it is possible for a Space Division Switch to be jammed

i.e. a lot of calls had to go through one crossbar switch, all its input or output lines may be used up. Setting k=2n-1 will ensure this will not happen

Cross point technology

crosspoint

Electromecha nical

electronic

Reed relay

miniswitch

bipolar

Field effect

Electrically latched

Magnetically latched

Thyristors

transistor

FET

MOS

CMOS

Western Electric 100 Point six-wire Type B crossbar switch