Masud_ EEE-DU_ 11-12_FH-38

Md. Masud Rana

Dept. Of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)
University Of Dhaka.
Session: 2011-2012; Roll-F.H.38 Telecommunication Networks

Switching System
Class lectures – 6, 7

 What are the basic parts of a land phone?

Class lecture -6
 Basic parts of a land phone:
The basic parts of a land phone systems are –
1. Transmitter and receiver
2. Transmission medium
3. Switching systems and
4. Signaling

 Give the classification of telephone switches.

Final – 2008, 2010, Class lecture – 7

 Classification of telephone switches:

Connectivity in telecommunication network is achieved by the use of switching
system.
Basically Switching systems are of two types –
i. Manual switching system and
ii. Automatic switching system.
The switching system is further classified into the following categories –

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 What is manual and automatic switching system? What are the

advantages of automatic switching system over manual switching
system? Class lecture – 7
 Manual switching system:
Manual switching system is a condition in which a human operator routes calls
inside an exchange without the use of a dial.
 Automatic switching system:
Automatic switching system is a condition in which a human operator is
replaced by various electromechanical and electronic switches to routes calls
inside an exchange.
 Advantages of automatic switching system over manual switching
system:
1. In manual exchange, the subscriber needs to communicate with the operator
and a common language becomes an important factor. In multilingual areas
this aspect may pose problems. On the other hand, the operation of an
automatic exchange is language independent.
2. A greater degree of privacy is obtained in automatic exchanges as no
operator is normally involved in setting up and monitoring a call.
3. Establishment and release of calls are faster in automatic switching system
than manual switching system.
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4. In an automatic exchange, the time required to establish and release a call

remains more or less of the same order irrespective of the load on the system
or the time of the day. In a manual system, this may not be true.

 What are the difference between manual switching system and

automatic switching system? Class lecture - 7
 Differences between manual and automatic switching system:
Object Manual switching Automatic switching
system system
1. Operator Human. Different electromechanical
and electronic switches.
2. Performance Error. No error.
3. Privacy Lost privacy. Obtained privacy.
4. Maintenance Operating cost low. Operating cost high.
5. Installation cost. Low. High.
6. Establishment and Slower than Faster than manual.
release of calls automatic.
7. Language Language dependent. Language independent.
8. Possibility of getting Much higher. Very much less.
a wrong number
9. Quality of service The service gives The service is uniform all
scope to the operator throughout the day and
to show favoritism. night.

 What is a simplex communication system? Describe a simplex

communication system with proper circuit diagram.
Class lecture – 6
 Simplex communication system:
In the simplest form of a telephone circuit, there is a one way
communication involving two entities, one receiving (listening) and the
other transmitting (talking). This form of the one way communication
system is known as simplex communication system.
The simplex communication system circuit diagram is given below –

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Fig: simplex communication system.

 Describe about the transmitter (Microphone) and Receiver

(Earphone) of a telephone system.
Class lecture – 6
 Transmitter (Microphone) of a telephone system:
A microphone is used as a transmitter in a telephone communication system.
Microphone converts speech signals into electrical signals.

The diagram of a carbon microphone is given below –

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Fig: A carbon microphone.

By applying binomial theorem –

If the value of m is significantly small then –

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 Receiver (Earphone) of a telephone system:

An Earphone is used as a receiver in a telephone communication system.
Earphone converts electrical signals into audio signals.

Fig: Earphone of a telephone system.

The equations assume that the vibrations of the diaphragm are too small to
affect the length of the air gap and that the reluctance of the magnetic path is
constant. The instantaneous force exerted on the diaphragm is proportional to the
square of the instantaneous flux linking the path.

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 What is half-duplex and full-duplex communication system?

What is side tone? Propose a circuit to reduce side tone.
In-course – 2014, Final – 2011, 2012, Class lecture -6

 Half-duplex communication:

Fig-1: Half-duplex telephone circuit.

In the above half-duplex telephone circuit speech of subscriber A is heard by
B subscriber as well as A’s own Earphone. This is called side tone.
 Full duplex communication:

 Side tone:
The audio signal which is heard at the generating end is called the side tone.
In the half duplex telephone circuit above, speech of subscriber A is heard by
B subscriber as well as A’s own Earphone is side tone.

The following figure shows a modified version of the half duplex

telephone circuit which shows small level of side tone with the full speech
signal received.
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Fig: A telephone circuit with side tone coupling.

Above figure gives a circuit where a small level of side tone and full speech
signal from the other party are coupled to the receiver. The impedance Z b is chosen
to be more or less equal to the impedance seen by the circuit to the right of section
𝐴𝐴′ . As a consequence, with proper side tone coupling the speech signal from the
microphone M divides more or less equally in the two windings P and Q. Since the
signals in these two windings are in opposite direction, only a small induced
voltage appears in the receiver circuit providing the side tone. When a signal is
received from the other entity, it travels in the same direction in both windings P
and Q, including a large signal in the receiver circuit.

 Describe the basics of a switching system.

Final – 2011
 The basics of a switching system:
A major component of a switching system or an exchange is the set of input
and output circuits called inlets and outlets, respectively. The primary function
of a switching system is to establish an electrical path between a given inlet-
outlet pair. The hardware used for establishing such a connection is called the
switching matrix or the switching network.

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Fig – 1: Switching network configuration.

Figure 1(a) shows a model of a switching network with N inlets and M outlets.
When N = M, the switching network is called a symmetric network. The
inlets/outlets may be connected to local subscriber lines or to trunks from/to other
exchanges as shown in Fig – 1(b). When all the inlets/outlets are connected to the
subscriber line, the logical connection appears as shown in figure – (c). In this
case, the output lines are folded back to the input and hence the network is called a
folded network. In figure – 1 (b), four types of connections may be established –
1. Local call connection between two subscribers in the system.
2. Outgoing call connection between a subscriber and an outgoing trunk.
3. Incoming call connection between an incoming trunk and a local
subscriber.
4. Transmit call connection between an incoming trunk and an outgoing
trunk.
In a switching network, all the inlet/outlet connections may be used for
interchanging connection. In such a case, the exchange does not support local
subscribers and is called a transit network. A switching network of this kind is
shown in Figure – 1(d) and is called a non-folded network. In a non-folded
network with N inlets and N outlets, N simultaneous information transfers are
possible. Consequently, for a non-folded network to be non-blocking, the network
should support N simultaneous switching path.

 What is blocking and non-blocking network?

 Non-blocking network:
In a folded network with N subscribers, there can be a maximum of N/2
simultaneous calls or information interchanges. The switching network may be
designed to provide N/2 simultaneous switching paths, in which case the
network is said to be non-blocking.

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In non-blocking network, as long as a called subscriber is free, a calling

subscriber will always be able to establish a connection to the called subscriber.

 Blocking network:
It may occasionally happen that when a subscriber requests a connection,
there are no switching paths free in the network, and hence he is denied
connection. In such an event, the subscriber is said to be blocked and the
switching network is called a blocking network.
In a blocking network, the number of simultaneous switching paths is less
than the maximum number of simultaneous conversations that can be take
place. The probability that a user may get blocked is called blocking
probability.
 Briefly illustrate the elements of a switching system.
Final – 2011
 Elements of a switching system:

Fig: Elements of a switching system.

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 Describe rotary pulse dialing.

Class lecture – 7
 Rotary pulse dialing:
A rotary dial is a component of a telephone or a telephone switchboard that
implements a signaling technology in telecommunications known as pulse
dialing.
 In pulse dialing, a train of pulses is used to represent a digit in the
subscriber number. The number of pulses in a train is equal to the digit
value it represents except in the case of zero which is represented by 10
pulses.
 Successive digits in a number are represented by a series of pulse trains.
Two successive trains are distinguished from one another by a pulse in
between them, known as the inter digit gap.
 The pulses are generated by alternately breaking and making the loop
circuit between the subscriber and the exchange.
The pulsing pattern is shown in the following figure for digits three and two –

Fig: Pulse dialing.

 Pulse rate is usually 10 pulses per second with a 10% tolerance.
 The inter digit gap is at least 200 ms although in some designs the
minimum gap requirement may be as much as 400 – 500 ms.
 The duty ratio of the pulse is 33% normally.
In introducing dial pulsing mechanism in the telephone set, the following points
have to be considered –
1. Since the pulse are produced by make and break of the subscriber loop,
there is likelihood of sparking inside the telephone instrument.

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2. The transmitter, receiver and the bell circuits of the telephone set may be
damaged if the dialing pulses are passed through them.
3. The dialing habits of the users vary widely and hence all timing aspects
should be independent of user action.
A rotary dial telephone uses the following for implementing pulse dialing –
 Finger plate and spring
 Shift, gear and pinion wheel
 Pawl and ratchet mechanism
 Impulsing cam and suppressor cam or a trigger mechanism
 Impulsing contact
 Centrifugal governor and worm gear
 Transmitter, receiver and bell by-pass circuits.
 Describe the signaling tones in automatic Strowger (Step-by
step) switching system. Class lecture – 7
 Signaling tones:
Signaling Tones plays an important role in Telephone automatic Strowger
Switching system. A number of signaling functions are involve in establishing,
maintaining and releasing a telephone conversation. In automatic switching
systems, the verbal signaling of the operator is replaced by a series of
distinctive tones.
The five subscriber related signaling functions are performed by the
operator-
1. Respond to the calling subscriber to obtain the identification of the called
party.
2. Inform the calling subscriber that the call is being established.
3. Ring the bell of called party.
4. Inform the calling subscriber, if the called party is busy.
5. Inform the calling subscriber, if the called party line is unobtainable for
some reason.
Distinctive signaling tones are provided in all automatic switching systems
for functions 1, 3, 4 and 5. A signaling tone for function 2 is usually not available
in Strowger exchanges. However, most of the modern exchanges provide a call-in-
progress or routing tone for function 2.
Presently attempts have been made to standardize the tones for various
signals, many variations are in vogue in different part of the world and even in
different parts of the same country. Variation are mainly due to different
capabilities and technologies of the switching system used.

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 Dial tone:
This tone indicates that the exchange is ready to accept dialed digits from the
subscriber.
The subscriber should start dialing only after hearing the dial tone.
Otherwise, initial dial pulses may be missed by the exchange which may result
in the call landing on a wrong number.
Most often the dial tone is sent out by the exchange even before the handset
is brought near the ear. Sometimes, however, a few seconds may elapse before
the dial tone is heard. This happens particularly in common control exchanges
which use shared resources for user interfaces.

The dial tone is a 33 Hz or 50 Hz or 400 Hz continuous tone as shown in the

following figure. The 400 Hz signal is usually modulated with 25 Hz or 50 Hz.

Fig: Dial tone.

 Ringing Tone :
Usually the exchange control equipment sends out the ringing current to the
telephone set of called party. This ringing current has the familiar double ring
pattern. Simultaneously, the control equipment sends out a ringing tone to the
calling subscriber, which has a pattern similar to that of the ringing current as
shown in the following figure.

Fig: Ringing tone.

The two rings in the double ring pattern by a gap of 2 s. The ring burst (বাাঁজা)
has a duration of 0.4s. The frequency of ringing tone is 133Hz or 400 Hz,
sometime modulated with 25Hz or 33Hz. It may be noticed that the ringing
current and ringing tone are two independent quantities.
 Busy tone:
Busy tone pattern is shown in the following figure –

Fig: Busy tone pattern.

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It is a bursty 400Hz signal with silence period in between. The burst and
silence durations have the same value of 0.75s or 0.375s. A busy tone is sent to
the calling subscriber whenever the switching equipment or junction line is not
available to put through the call or the called subscriber line is engaged.
 Number Unobtainable Tone:
The following figure shows the number unobtainable tone which is a
continuous 400Hz signal.

This tone is send to calling subscriber due to variety of reasons such as called
party line is out of order or disconnected and error in dialing leading to the
selection of a spare line. In some exchanges the number unobtainable tones is 400
Hz intermittent with 2.5s on period and 0.5s off period.
 The routing tone or call in progress tone:
The routing tone or call in progress tone is a 400 Hz or 800 Hz intermittent
pattern. The following figure shown a routing tone pattern –

Fig: The routing tone or call in progress tone.

In electromechanical system, it is usually 800 Hz with 50 percent duty ratio
and .5s on/off period. In analog electronic exchange it is a 400 Hz pattern with
0.5s on period and 2.5s off period. In digital exchanges, it has 0.1s on/off
period at 400 Hz. When a subscriber call is routed through a number of
different type of exchanges, one hears different call in progress tones as the
call progresses through different exchanges.
It is not unusual that a subscriber in a new area where frequency or timings
of tones are different from those in his own area, confuse signaling tones. In
order to overcome this problem, recorded voice that announce message like
"Number engaged" or "Busy" are used in some modern exchanges.
 Describe touch tone dialing (normal dialing) in a telephone.
Class lecture – 7
 Tone dialing:
In tone dialing type of telephones, pressing the digit keys causes the dial
network to produce specific tones that the central office recognizes and

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decodes. This type of telephone is also called touch-tone service telephone. It

contains push buttons and tone generating circuits, instead of a rotary dial.
When a button is pressed, a signal of two frequencies is generated and is
transmitted to the central switching office to identify the key. In these
frequencies, one is in the low frequency band and the other is in the high
frequency band. Thus by pressing the key 5 transmits two signals, one at the
frequency 770 Hz and the other at the frequency 1336 Hz. These frequencies
are translated into a series of pulses similar to those made by the rotary dial.
Basis for the selection of these frequencies is such that there is no possibility
that the harmonics of one set of frequencies is mistaken for another set of
frequencies. If a fourth band of high frequency, 1633 Hz, is provided then 16
keys can be accommodated which are used for special applications. These
frequencies are indicated by the intersection of the frequency lines in the tone
matrix as shown in the following figure.

Fig: Tone dialing button and their frequencies.

 What is the difference between tone dialing and pulse dialing?
Class lecture – 7
 Difference between tone dialing and pulse dialing:
1. Tone dialing uses specific tones to indicate the number that was entered
while pulse dialing uses a number of signal pulses.
2. All tone dialing phones have numeric keypads while most pulse dialing
phones have rotary dials.
3. Tone dialing is very quick and easy to use while pulse dialing can take a
long time.
4. Tone dialing is the prevailing method right now while pulse dialing is
already obsolete.

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 Discuss the construction and working of a rotary switch with

drive mechanism. Class lecture – 7
 Construction and working of a rotary switch with drive
mechanism:
The rotary switch mainly consists of Ratchet wheel, pawl, electromagnet,
armature wiper, contacts and detent. The pawl which is fixed with the armature can
engaged with the Ratchet. The drive mechanism of a rotary switch is shown in the
following figure –

Fig: Drive mechanism of a rotary switch.

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 What is forward drive and reverse drive mechanism of a

rotary switch? Mention some difference between them.
Final – 2013, class lecture – 7.
 Forward drive mechanism of rotary switch:
In the rotary switch mechanism, in which the wheel of the rotary switch
moves during forward motion of the armature is called forward drive
mechanism.
 Reverse drive mechanism of rotary switch:
In the rotary switch mechanism, if the electromagnet is energized and de-
energized five times by applying five pulses, the wiper moves by five contacts.
Then the mechanism is called reverse drive mechanism of rotary switch as the
ratchet wheel moves when the armature returns to its rest position.
 Difference between forward and reverse drive mechanism:
Forward drive mechanism Reverse drive mechanism
1. The wiper is in forward direction of 1. Ratchet wheel moves when the
that of the armature. armature returns to its rest position.
2. Used two motion selectors. 2. Used uniselectors.
3. This mechanism uses two rotary 3. This mechanism use only one rotary
switches. switch.
4. Capable of horizontal as well as 4. Only capable of vertical stepping
vertical stepping movement. movement.
5. 100 contacts arranged on 10 levels 5. 3 switching banks each having 25
each having 10 contacts. contacts.

 What is uniselector and two motion selector in Strowger

switching system? Mention the differences between them.
Class lecture – 7
 Strowger switching system:
In a strowger system there are 2 types of selectors which forms the building
block of the switching system. They are –
i. Uniselector and
ii. Two-motion selector.

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 Uniselector:
A uniselector is one which has a single rotary switch with a bank of contacts.
Typically, there are four banks of which three are used for switching and fourth
one is used for homing.

Fig: schematic representation of uniselectors.

 Two-motion selector:
A two motion selector is a rotary switch whose wipers are capable of
moving horizontal and vertical as shown in the following figure –

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Fig: Two motion selector.

 Differences between uniselector and two motion selector:

Uniselector
1. The rotary motion of this switch is
in one direction, i.e., the wiper
assembly moves only in one
direction.
2. 4 switching banks. Three banks
each have 25 contacts. And
remaining one bank use for
homing.
3. Used in reverse drive mechanism.
Two-motion selector
1. The motion of the wiper assembly
is in two directions, vertical as well
as horizontal.
2. 100 contacts arranged on 10 levels
each having 10 contacts.
3. Used in forward drive mechanism.

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4. The first contact of each bank is
known as the home contact and the
remaining as switching contacts.
5. Never release magnet is used for
homing.
4. The lowest vertical position and the
first vertical contact in each level
are home position and the
remaining ones are the actual
switching position.
5. Sometimes release magnet used for
homing.

 Write down the numbering scheme for two-motion selector

contacts.
 Numbering scheme for two-motion selector contacts:

 Describe a step by step (Strowger) switching systems using

diagrams. In-course
 Step by step switching systems:
A step by step switching system uses a combination of uniselectors and two
motion selectors in which each function is done step by step to connect a calling
subscriber to a called subscriber.
Most of the necessary control circuits are built in as an internal part of the
selectors, thus enabling them to receive and respond to user signaling directly.
The relevant (সু সঙ্গত) signaling tones are sent out to the subscriber by the
switching elements (selectors) at the appropriate stages of switching. Thus, a
step by step switching system is a direct control system.
A step by step system consists of 3 major parts as shown in the following
figure –

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Fig: Configuration of a step by step switching system.

 Selector hunters or line finders:

Fig: selector hunter based access.

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 Group selector and final selector:

 What are the factors need to be consider designing an

electromechanical switching exchange? In – course
 Electromechanical switching exchange designing factors:
Design parameters of an electromechanical switching exchange are –

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 What is crossbar switching system? Explain the working

principle of crossbar switching system. In – course

 Crossbar switching system:

A crossbar switching system is a switching system in which a switch
connecting multiple inputs to multiple outputs in a matrix manner.

 Working principle of a crossbar switching system:

The basic idea of crossbar switching system is to provide a matrix of
(n × m) sets of contacts with only (n + m) activators or less to select one of the
(n × m) sets of contacts.
A diagrammatic representation of a cross point switching matrix is shown in
the following figure –

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Fig: 3×3 crossbar switching.

There is an array of horizontal and vertical wires shown by solid lines. A set
of vertical and horizontal contact points are connected to these wires. The contact
points form pairs, each pair consisting of a bank of three or four horizontal and a
corresponding bank of vertical contact points. A contact point pair acts as a cross-
point switch and remains separated or open when not in use. The contact points are
mechanically mounted (and electrically insulated) on a set of horizontal and
vertical bars shown as dotted lines. The bars, in turn, are attached to a set of
electromagnets.
When an electromagnet, say in the horizontal direction, is energized, the bar
attached to it slightly rotates in such a way that the contact points attached to the
bar move closer to its facing contact points but do not actually make any contact.
Now, if an electromagnet in the vertical direction is energized, the corresponding
bar rotates causing the contact points at the intersection of the two bars to close.
This happens because the contact points move towards each other. As an example,
if electromagnets M2 and M3 are energized, a contact is established at the cross
point 6 such that the subscriber B is connected to the subscriber C.

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In order to fully understand the working of the crossbar switching, let us

consider a 6 × 6 crossbar schematic shown in the following Figure.

Fig: Switching Principle illustration – 6x6 crossbar switch

The schematic shows six subscribers with the horizontal bars representing
the inlets and the vertical bars the outlets. Now consider the establishment of the
following connections in sequence: A to C and B to E. First the horizontal bar A is
energised. Then the vertical bar C is energised. The crosspoint AC is latched and
the conversation between A and C can now proceed. Suppose we now energise the
horizontal bar of B to establish the connection B-E, the crosspoint BC may latch
and B will be brought into the circuit of A-C. This is prevented by introducing an
energising sequence for latching the crosspoints. A crosspoint latches only if the
horizontal bar is energised first and then the vertical bar. (The sequence may well
be that the vertical bar is energised first and then the horizontal bar). Hence the
crosspoint BC will not latch even though the vertical bar C is energised as the
proper sequence is not maintained. In order to establish the connection B-E, the
vertical bar E needs to be energised after the horizontal bar is energised. In this
case, the crosspoint AE may latch as the horizontal bar A has already been
energised for establishing the connection A-C.
This should also be avoided and is done by de-energising the horizontal bar A after
the crosspoint is latched and making a suitable arrangement such that the latch is
maintained even though the energisation in the horizontal direction is withdrpm.
The crosspoint remains latched as long as the vertical bar E remains energised. As
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the horizontal bar A is de-energised immediately after the crosspoint AC is latched,

the crosspoint AE does not latch when the vertical bar E is energised.

 What are the differences between Strowger and Crossbar

switching system? In – course
 Differences between Strowger and Crossbar switching system:

Strowger switching Crossbar switching

1. The control functions are performed 1. Hard-wired controlled subsystem
by circuits associated with the which use relays and latches.
switching elements in the system. Control functions are performed by
a computer or a processor.
2. The switches are not arranged in a 2. The switches are arranged in a
matrix. matrix.
3. Identification number of a 3. Identification number of a
subscriber is route dependent. subscriber is route independent.
4. Call processing takes place 4. Call processing takes place
dependent of the switching network. independent of the switching
network.

 Reference:
1. Viswanathan_ Telecommunication Switching Systems and
Networks_Chapter – 1,2,3.
2. K.Chandrashekhar_Telecommunication And Switching.

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