MODULE 2

EVOLUTION OF SWITCHING SYSTEMS: Introduction, Message switching,

Circuit switching, Functions of switching systems, Distribution systems, Basics of
crossbar systems, Electronic switching.

1. Telecommunication and Switching, Traffic and Networks - J E Flood: Pearson Education,

2002.

2.1 Introduction

Switching systems and associated signaling systems are very essential to the operation of
telecommunication networks. The proper facilities are provided by the switching system through
some functions.

The design of switching system has become ever most complicated, In order to provide additional
facilities which enable networks to provide more services to customer and to facilities operation
and maintenance. In this chapter we are studying about historical approach of the switching
system.

2.2 Message switching

Figure a) Manual transfer of a message in message in message switching

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Figure b) Manual transfer of paper tape (a torn tape relay system) R/P= reperforator A/T=
automatic transfer.

The figure(c) shows the outgoing route was also selected automatically, manual transfer of paper
tape with automatic route selection (turn-tape relay system) T= teleprinter.

The figure (d) Automatic message switching system shows the paper tape was eliminated by
storing the message electronically and analyzing (memory) their address by electronic circuit.

S=store

Messaging switching is better known as the stored- and forward approach for an entire message.

In message switching if there is no direct connections between two customers at two town say
source (S) and destination (D), then we can use another town say point (P) to establish the
connection in the telegraph circuit.

The operator at town ‘S’ sends the message at town ‘P’, where it was written down by the receiving
operator. This operator identifies the address of the message as being to town ‘D’ and then
transmitted the message over the circuit of ‘p’ as shown in figure.

Later improvements made over the above techniques. First step is the message received at ‘D’ was
automatically recorded on punched tape and subsequently turn off the receiver by the operator,
who read the address from the tape and message retransmitted automatically from the same tape
as shown in figure this was known as a torn tape relay system.

In a message switching center an incoming message is not lost when the required outgoing is busy.
It is stored in a queue with any other message for the same route and retransmitted when the
required circuit becomes free.

2.3 Circuit switching

Circuit switching allows two-way communication in real time. In circuit switching system
connects the circuit of calling telephone to that of the called telephone on demand and it maintain
this connection for the duration of the call. Here, if the required outgoing circuit from a switch is
already engaged on another call, the new call offered to it cannot be connected. The call cannot be
stored, it is lost.

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List out the difference between Message and circuit switching

Message switching Circuit Switching

Concept In message switching, each switch When we or our computer
stores the whole message and forwards places a telephone call, the
it to the next switch. Although, we don't switching equipment within
see message switching at lower layers, the telephone system seeks
it is still used in some applications like out a physical path all the
electronic mail (e-mail). way from your telephone to
the receiver’s telephone. This
technique is called circuit
switching.
Store and forward
transmission Yes No

Terminal Telegraph, teletype Telephone, modem

Terminal Telegraph, teletype Telephone, modem

Information Morse, ASCII Analog Voice or PCM

representation digital voice

Transmission system Digital over various media Analog and digital over
various media

Basic User and Transmission of telegrams (Telegraph Bidirectional real time

Network network) transfer of voice signals
(Telephone network)

Routing Manual routing Route selected during call

setup

Multiplexing Character multiplexing, message Circuit multiplexing

multiplexing

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2.4 Functions of switching systems

The basic functions that all switching system must perform are as follows.

1. Attending: the system must be continually monitoring all lines to detect call requests
2. Information receiving: In addition to receiving call and clear signals the system must
receive information from the caller as to the called line required. This is called the
address lines
3. Information processing: the system must process the information received, in order
to determine the actions to be performed and to control these actions.
4. Since both originating and terminating calls are handled differently for different
customers. Class of service information has to be processed to in addition to the address
information.
5. Busy testing: After processing the received information to determine the required
outgoing circuit the system must make a busy test to determine whether it is free or
already engaged on another call.
6. Interconnection: For a call between two customers, three connections are made in the
following sequence.
a) A connection to the calling terminal
b) A connection to the called terminal
c) A connection between the two terminals (calling terminal and called terminal)

In manual exchange system connections (a) and (b) are made at the two ends of the cord circuit
and connections (c) joins them together in the cord circuit.

Many automatic systems also complete connections (c) by joining (a) and (b) at the transmission
bridge.

Modern systems release the connections (a) and (b) and establish connection (c) over a separate
path through the switching network. This is known as call-back or crank back. The calling line is
called back and the connection to the called line is cranked back to it.

7. Alerting: Having made the connection, the system sends a signal to alter the called
customer to the call, e.g. by sending ringing customer‘s telephone.

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 8. Supervision: After the called terminal has answered the system continuous to monitor
the connection in order to be able to clear it down when the call has ended. When a
charge for the call is made by metering, the supervisory circuit sends pulses over the
“P” wire to operate a meter in the line circuit of the calling customer. This process is
known as Calling line Identification
9. Information sending: If the called customer’s line is located on another exchange the
additional function of information sending is required. The originating exchange must
signal the required address to the terminating exchange.

2.5 Distribution Frames

Many changes occur during the life of a telephone exchange. New customers join and old ones
leave. As the number of customers in an exchange increases or if customer move from one
exchange area to other exchange area, then in PBX number of lines may increase over 6 months
or years from 4000 lines to an ultimate 20,000 lines. Distribution frames in strowger exchange is
shown in figure (a)

Figure (a) distribution frames in strowger exchange

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Growth of traffic may require additional switches in the exchange and more junctions to other
exchanges. Great flexibility is therefore required in the trunking of an exchange. This is obtained
by inserting distribution frames into the permanent exchange cabling.

Frames contain an array of terminal blocks and the terminals are linked in a less permanent fashion
by wires called jumpers

The main distribution frame (MDF) is the place where the cables of the customers’ distribution
network terminate. The arrangement of terminals on the line side of the MDF corresponds to the
street cabling and so reflects the geography of the area. In MDF the exchange terminals are
arranged in directory number order.

To guard the exchange apparatus against any high voltage surges on the external lines, protectors
and fuses are mounted on the MDF. The MDF also provides a convenient point of access for tasting
lines and private circuits and through junctions are strapped together at the MDF

The intermediate distribution frame (IDF) is used to distribute incoming traffic evenly over the
group of first selectors. On the multiple side of the IDF, lines are arranged in the directory number
order. On the local side, the order can be arbitrary to obtain the desired result.

The terminals on the local side of the IDF are corresponds to equipment number (EN) of the lines
and customers uniselectors are connected to this side.

IDF provides equipment number (EN) to directory number (DN) translation.

Incoming calls for a customer terminate at final selectors on an outlet corresponding to the
directory number. The final selectors multiples are therefore connected to the multiple side of the
IDF

A modern system provides DN to EN translation, in order to enable customers’ incoming traffic

to be redistributed in addition to their outgoing traffic.

Between the ranks of selectors there are trunk distribution frames (TDF). These are used in the
telecommunication system to cater growth in traffic.

For digital switching system, digital circuits are terminated on a digital distribution frames (DDF).

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In a SPC system, EN-to-DN and DN-to-EN translation may be performed by a central processor
reading data from an electronic memory. IDF is not used in SPC system.

2.6 Basics of crossbar systems

Strowger switches require regular maintenance. The banks need cleaning, mechanisms needs
lubrication and adjustment and wipers and cords wear out.

The disadvantages lead to the development of other forms of switch, namely matrix of telephone
relays as shown in figure (a) with their contacts multiplied together horizontally and vertically.

Since a switch with N inlets and N outlets requires N² relays for its crosspoint, this was uneconomic
for larger exchanges. A more economic solution was provided by the invention of the crossbar
switch by G.A Betulander in 1917.

Fig (a) : Matrix of crosspoints

The crossbar switch retains a set of contacts at each crosspoint, but these are operated through
horizontal and vertical bars by magnets at the sides of the switch. Thus, a switch with N inlets and
N outlets only needs 2N operating magnets and armatures, instead of N².

The magnets which operate the horizontal bars are called select magnets and those operating the
vertical bars are called hold magnets or bridge magnets. The mechanism of a crossbar switch is
shown in figure (b).

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 Figure(b).The mechanism of a crossbar switch

Operation of a select magnet tilts one of the horizontal bars up or down. This causes flexible fingers
to engage with the contact assemblies of one row of crosspoints and provides the link which was
missing from their operating mechanisms.

One of the bridge magnets is then operated and this closes the contacts of the crosspoint at the
coordinates corresponding to the horizontal and vertical magnets.

The select magnets are then released, but the finger remains trapped and the cross point contacts
remain closed for as long as the bridge magnet is energized.

Current flows in this magnet for as long as the P wire is at earth potential. This persists until a
‘clear’ signal causes the earth to be removed at the end of a call.

Strowger selectors perform counting and searching. However, the crossbar switch has no
intelligence. Something external to the switch must decide which magnets to operate

This is called a marker. Since it takes less than a second to operate the switch, a marker can control
many switches and serve many registers as shown in figure (c)

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 Figure (c) marker control of a crossbar switch.

Thus, even a large exchange needs few markers. This is a further stage of common control, which we call
centralized control.

A crossbar switch can makes many connections as it has vertical bars at a time. It is a group of uniselectors
instead of a single two-motion selector. For example, a switch of size 10 x 10 can make up to ten
simultaneous connections between ten incoming trunks and ten outgoing trunks.

Two stage link systems of primary and secondary switches are interconnected to produce larger switches
and are called as link frame.

The figure (d) shows twenty switches of size 10 x 10 used to interconnect 100 incoming trunks to 100
outgoing trunks

In figure (d) the number of an outlet on a primary switch corresponds to the number of the secondary switch
to which its links goes and the number of an inlet on a secondary switch corresponds to the number of the
primary switch from which its link comes.

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Figure (d) two stage link network (using switches of size 10 X 10 to interconnect 100 incoming and
100 outgoing trunks)

Example link 23 connects outlet 3 of the primary switch 2 to inlet 2 of the secondary switch 3.

In the above figure there is only one link from a primary switch to a secondary switch. When a
connection is required, this path may be busy because it is already in use for a connection from
another incoming trunk on that primary switch to another outgoing trunk on that secondary switch.
The call attempt fails, although the outgoing trunk is free. This situation is known as blocking.

Marker:

Marker is used to setup a connection from a given incoming trunk to a given outgoing trunk, this
also defines the link to be used and the select and bridge magnets to be operated to make the
connection. Marker first test the condition of the outgoing trunk for busy/free condition of the
relevant link. Only when two sides are free it operates the switches. This is called as conditional
selection.

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A marker has access to both ends of a connection that it sets up through a network, it can test the
connection for continuity before it releases. It reports the faults in the path and attempt to set up
the connection over a different path through the network.

A concentrator can be constructed by multiplying together the horizontals of a number of primary

switches as shown in figure (e).this shows a network with 500 incoming trunks and 100 outgoing
trunks using switches of size 10 X 10.

Figure (e): Concentrator connecting 500 incoming trunks to 100 outgoing trunks (switches 2 to 9
not shown)

To obtain larger network, four stages can be used. Figure (f) shows a Four stage network,
constructed from 400 switches of size 10 X 10 to serve 1000 incoming and outgoing trunks.

A large crossbar exchange needs several markers in order to handle its traffic and this introduces
a complication. Here it is essential to prevent two or more markers from attempting to set up
connection in the same link frame at the same time. To overcome this marker in a crossbar system
is using the quite complex lock out circuits.

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Figure (f): Four stage switching network for 1000 incoming trunks and 1000 outgoing trunks using
10 X 10 switches.

2.7 Electronic switching

The Electronic switching system evolved to overcome the major drawbacks of the
electromechanical switching systems. Electronic exchanges have the more economic controls
compared to electromechanical exchanges.

The major drawbacks of the electromechanical exchanges are

a) The non-flexibility of the design used

b) Wear and tear of the control switches

In electronic exchange the life of the electronic device is independent of operation, but dependent
on control parameters. Advances made in computer technology led to the development of the
Stored program control (SPC). This enables the digital computer to be used as a central control
processor and perform different functions with the same hardware by executing different
programs.

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Any data could be altered and could be controlled by the central processor. Even few functions
can be controlled by the customers. Examples include:

➢ Call barring: the customer can prevent unauthorized calls being made and can prevent
incoming calls when they don’t want to be attended.
➢ Repeat last call: If a line is engaged, the caller can try again later without having to redial
the full number.
➢ Remainder calls: the exchange can be instructed to call customer at a pre-arranged time
(e.g. weak-up call)
➢ Call diversion: the exchange can be instructed to connect calls to different number when
the customer goes away
➢ Three way calls: the customer can instruct the exchange to connect a third party to a call
that is already in progress
➢ Charge advice: this is indication call done by the exchange to the customer, to inform the
call duration and charge.

In order to develop a complete electronic exchange, we replace electromechanical switches in the

speech path by electronic common control.

Fig (a) diode crosspoint

Figure (a) shows a diode crosspoint relay. If A is positive the diode is reverse biased and the
crosspoint is open when A is negative. These electronic devices are used in the speech path

In order to implement a crosspoint, a one bit memory along with switching element is required.
Cold - Cathode gas tubes and PNPN semiconductor devices are used to implement crosspoint
because two functions are provided in these devices.

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But cost and implementation was high and complicated which lead to the development of FDM
and TDM system as a switch.

In FDM system can be used as switch by bringing the two ends of its transmission path together.
Here made the modem to one end of the path to operate at fixed frequencies, but those at another
end to operate for any frequencies. Now any trunk at one side of the switch can be connected to
any trunk at the other side. This method is too expensive.

A TDM system can also be used as a switch. If any of the N receiving gates is operated by a train
of pulses coincident with those applied to one of the N sending gates, then a transmission path is
provided form the incoming trunk to outgoing trunk via a common highway.

For a transmission system, fixed pulse timings are used. By altering the pulse timings any incoming
trunk is connected to any outgoing trunk i.e., N X N switch is obtained. It is cheaper method.

Types of electronic switching system

➢ Space division systems (SD)

➢ Time division system (TD)

In Space division systems each connection is made over a different path in space which exists for
the duration of the connection.

In Time division system each connection is made over a same path in space but at different instant
of time

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