Lucent Technologies Inc.

Silverio C Vasquez

Jaan Raamot

One embodiment of the present invention is an arrangement for establishing connectivity between the inputs and outputs of n ports in a switching system includes first and second matrices of cross points and a control circuit. The first matrix includes n&#xd7;n cross points, each first matrix cross point establishing a unilateral path between two of the n ports. The second matrix includes n&#xd7;n cross points, each second matrix cross point establishing a unilateral path between two of the n ports. The control circuit is associated with a first cross point of the first matrix and a complementary cross point of the second matrix, the first cross point operable to establish a unilateral path from a source port (i) to the destination port (j), the complementary cross point operable to establish a unilateral path from the destination port (j) to the source port (i).

Ethernet cross point switch with reduced connections by using dual control to the cross points in the switch

A method for communicating from a source port (i) to a destination port (j) is employed within a switching system that has m ports, each of the ports being coupled to a local area network via a Hub. The connectivity between the inputs and outputs of the m ports forms a matrix of cross points having m rows and m columns. Each port has a transmit line coupled to a row of the matrix and a receive line coupled to a column of the matrix. A transmission operation from the source port (i) to the destination port (j) involves a first control circuit for unilaterally connecting the port (i) to the port (j), a second control circuit for unilaterally connecting the port (j) to the port (i). The method includes the use of a third control circuit, and a column control bus that couples the third control circuit to a plurality of control circuits including the second control circuit.

Ethernet cross point switch with reduced connections by using column control buses

Local area networks are dynamically connected to one another by a switching system only when there is a packet to be exchanged between the two local area networks, otherwise the local area networks operate as separate and independent local area networks. The switching system can concurrently interconnect multi-pairs of local area networks together. The overall capacity of the local area networks interconnected via the switching system is increased since the local area networks operate free of other local area networks except when directly exchanging packets with another local area network. The switching system comprises a space switching unit and switch interface units with each switch interface unit interconnecting an individual local area network to the space switching unit. When a first switch interface unit receives a packet from a connected local area network destined for another local area network, the first switch interface unit establishes a first unilateral path to the other local area network and determines if the other local area network is idle. If the other local area network is idle, the first switch interface unit establishes a second unilateral path from the connected local area network to the other local area network via the space switching unit so that the packet from the connected local area network can be transmitted to the other local area network.

Multiple-local area networks interconnected by a switch

Allowing the implementation of a strictly nonblocking cross-point space switch central stage for the switching of SDH frames or other formats. The port terminating each incoming link has a time slot interchange (TSI) unit. Each TSI unit comprises incoming and outgoing sets of TSI's. The TSI's properly arrange each byte of each row of the STM-1 frame or other formats to be in the proper position for transmission on the STM-1 links. Within the STM-1 frame structure, each row of a frame is switched in an identical manner but the column designations within a row are switched differently. In response to rearranged frames from incoming TSI's, a cross-point switch is responsive to each column of each of the rows to switch each of the bytes of that column to the appropriate outgoing TSI for rearrangement and transmission on a STM-1 link.

Nonblocking synchronous digital hierarchy column cross-point switch

Using designated special telephone numbers each associated with a particular language to provide rate information by a telecommunication switching system that responds to those special telephone numbers. When a caller calls one of the special numbers, the caller is requested in the correct language to enter the desired destination telephone number; and in return, the caller receives the cost for making a call to that number. If the caller wishes to place the call, the system automatically places the call. If the decision is made to place the call, an option allows the caller to specify the maximum amount of money they will spend. After this maximum amount of money is met, the system automatically disconnects the call. The system gives a warning at some predetermined interval before the call is disconnected. In addition to the rate information for making the call at the present time, system provides the caller with the cheapest time to make the call and the present time and day for the location of the destination telephone number.

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Westminster, CO, United States of America

Silverio C Vasquez