Chapter 9
Circuit Switching
Switching Networks
Long distance transmission is typically done over a network of switched nodes
Nodes not concerned with content of data
End devices are stations
o Computer, terminal, phone, etc.
A collection of nodes and connections is a communications network
Data routed by being switched from node to node
Nodes
Nodes may connect to other nodes only, or to stations and other nodes
Node to node links usually multiplexed
Network is usually partially connected
Some redundant connections are desirable for reliability
Two different switching technologies
Circuit switching
Packet switching
Simple Switched Network
Circuit Switching
Dedicated communication path between two stations
Three phases
Establish
Transfer
Disconnect
Must have switching capacity and channel capacity to establish connection
Must have intelligence to work out routing
Circuit Switching – Applications
Inefficient
Channel capacity dedicated for duration of connection
If no data, capacity wasted
Set up (connection) takes time
Once connected, transfer is transparent
Developed for voice traffic (phone)
Public Circuit Switched Network
Telecomms Components
Subscriber
Devices attached to network
Local Loop
Subscriber loop
Connection to network
Exchange
Switching centers
End office - supports subscribers
Trunks
Branches between exchanges
Multiplexed
Circuit Switch Elements
Circuit Switching Concepts
Digital Switch
Provide transparent signal path between devices
Network Interface
Control Unit
Establish connections
Generally on demand
Handle and acknowledge requests
Determine if destination is free
construct path
Maintain connection
Disconnect
Blocking or Non-blocking
Blocking
A network is unable to connect stations because all paths are in use
A blocking network allows this
Used on voice systems
Short duration calls
Non-blocking
Permits all stations to connect (in pairs) at once
Used for some data connections
Space Division Switching
Developed for analog environment
Separate physical paths
Crossbar switch
o Number of crosspoints grows as square of number of stations
o Loss of crosspoint prevents connection
o Inefficient use of crosspoints
All stations connected, only a few crosspoints in use
o Non-blocking
Crossbar Matrix
Multistage Switch
Reduced number of crosspoints
More than one path through network
o Increased reliability
More complex control
May be blocking
Three Stage Switch
Time Division Switching
Partition low speed bit stream into pieces that share higher speed stream
e.g. TDM bus switching
o based on synchronous time division multiplexing
o Each station connects through controlled gates to high speed bus
o Time slot allows small amount of data onto bus
o Another line’s gate is enabled for output at the same time
Routing
Many connections will need paths through more than one switch
Need to find a route
Efficiency
Resilience
Public telephone switches are a tree structure
Static routing uses the same approach all the time
Dynamic routing allows for changes in routing depending on traffic
Uses a peer structure for nodes
Alternate Routing
Possible routes between end offices predefined
Originating switch selects appropriate route
Routes listed in preference order
Different sets of routes may be used at different times
Alternate Routing Diagram
Control Signaling Functions
Audible communication with subscriber
Transmission of dialed number
Call can not be completed indication
Call ended indication
Signal to ring phone
Billing info
Equipment and trunk status info
Diagnostic info
Control of specialist equipment
Control Signal Sequence
Both phones on hook
Subscriber lifts receiver (off hook)
End office switch signaled
Switch responds with dial tone
Caller dials number
If target not busy, send ringer signal to target subscriber
Feedback to caller
Ringing tone, engaged tone, unobtainable
Target accepts call by lifting receiver
Switch terminates ringing signal and ringing tone
Switch establishes connection
Connection release when Source subscriber hangs up
Switch to Switch Signaling
Subscribers connected to different switches
Originating switch seizes interswitch trunk
Send off hook signal on trunk, requesting digit register at target switch (for address)
Terminating switch sends off hook followed by on hook (wink) to show register ready
Originating switch sends address
Control Signals
Location of Signaling
Subscriber to network
Depends on subscriber device and switch
Within network
Management of subscriber calls and network
ore complex
In Channel Signaling
Use same channel for signaling and call
Requires no additional transmission facilities
Inband
Uses same frequencies as voice signal
Can go anywhere a voice signal can
Impossible to set up a call on a faulty speech path
Out of band
Voice signals do not use full 4kHz bandwidth
Narrow signal band within 4kHz used for control
Can be sent whether or not voice signals are present
Need extra electronics
Slower signal rate (narrow bandwidth)
Drawbacks of In Channel Signaling
Limited transfer rate
Delay between entering address (dialing) and connection
Overcome by use of common channel signaling
Common Channel Signaling
Control signals carried over paths independent of voice channel
One control signal channel can carry signals for a number of subscriber channels
Common control channel for these subscriber lines
Associated Mode
Common channel closely tracks interswitch trunks
Disassociated Mode
Additional nodes (signal transfer points)
Effectively two separate networks
Common v. In Channel Signaling
Signaling
Modes
Signaling System Number 7
SS7
Common channel signaling scheme
ISDN
Optimized for 64k digital channel network
Call control, remote control, management and maintenance
Reliable means of transfer of info in sequence
Will operate over analog and below 64k
Point to point terrestrial and satellite links
SS7
Signaling Network Elements
Signaling point (SP)
Any point in the network capable of handling SS7 control message
Signal transfer point (STP)
A signaling point capable of routing control messages
Control plane
Responsible for establishing and managing connections
Information plane
Once a connection is set up, info is transferred in the information plane
Transfer Points
Signaling Network Structures
STP capacities
Number of signaling links that can be handled
Message transfer time
Throughput capacity
Network performance
Number of SPs
Signaling delays
Availability and reliability
Ability of network to provide services in the face of STP failures
