Modular branch exchange and nodal access units for multiple access

Abstract

Modular digital exchanges linked by earth satellite provide coordinated time division switching and time compressed communication services relative to externally attached telephone and data (user) trunks. Branch exchange modules (NCU's) perform call switching, buffer storage, time compression and activity selective channel assignment handling between individual external user trunks and multi-bit channels of external time division highways (digital links). The latter are linked pyramidally to time division multiple access nodes of the satellite through Network (Nodal) Access Unit modules (NAU's) which perform further time compression handling and adaptive assignment of satellite channels based upon nodal distribution of demand. The NCU modules also provide 'local' switching between user trunks and 'tandem' linkage directly between NCU's (without NAU and satellite handling). The modules have individual common control processors which inter-communicate via reserved signaling channels on the digital links and satellite. The modularity is in increments suitable for adaptive deployment of connection equipment relative to satellite access nodes (e.g. to adapt to shifts in user populations and/or plant facilities).