Method and apparatus for reconfiguring interconnections between

Abstract

An illustrative method and structural arrangement for reconfiguration of switching system functional units where although the distributed control entities and the distributed switch units of a switching system are in fixed association, the association between peripheral circuits and the control and switch units is not fixed. Rather a group of peripheral circuits is connectable to at least first and second ones of the distributed switch units. When the group of peripheral circuits is connected to the first distributed switch unit, the control unit associated with the first distributed switch unit processes calls to and from the group of peripheral circuits. When the group of peripheral circuits is connected to the second distributed switch unit in response to a reconfiguration signal, the control unit associated with the second distributed switch unit processes calls to and from the group. In particular embodiments, the selective connection of the group of peripheral circuits to different distributed switch units is effected by an interconnection arrangement used to interconnect the switching system and a multiplex of communication circuits from a transmission facility. In one embodiment the interconnection arrangement is implemented using a digital access and crossconnect system (DACS), and in a second embodiment, using a plurality of add/drop multiplexers interconnected in a fiber ring.