SRI RAMAKRISHNA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, COIMBATORE – 10

(An Autonomous Institution)

(Approved by AICTE, New Delhi – Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai)

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

SPACE DIVISION
SWITCHING
A.K.Kavitha
Assistant Professor (Sr.Gr.)/ECE
Space Division Switching
• In space-division switching each input takes a different physical path in the
switch matrix depending on the out-put.
• Hence, when a connection is established through a space switch matrix, a
permanent physical contact is made on the matrix of cross-points.
• The connection will be maintained throughout the call duration.
• This technology can be primarily developed to accommodate analog
transmission.
• Broadly speaking, space-division switching can be classified into three types:
• Manual
• Electro-mechanical
• Stored-Program control.
Space Division Switching
• In Manual switching, upon
requesting a connection, the operator
would manually connect the
appropriate jacks using a loop cord
with a loop plug on each end.
• The second generation of space-
division switching systems was
electro-mechanical.
• Two common types of such systems
were step-by-step (also known as the
Strowger switch in honor of its
inventor) and crossbar switches.
• The basic concept of this switching
element is shown in fig 2.2.
Space Division Switching
• The simplest switching structure is a rectangular array of crosspoints as in Figure 5 .2.
• This switching matrix can be used to connect any one of N inlets to any one of M outlets.
• If the inlets and outlets are connected to two-wire circuits, only one cross point per
connection is required.
• Rectangular cross-point arrays are designed to provide intergroup (transit) connections
only, that is, from an inlet group to an outlet group.
• Applications for this type of an operation occurs in the following

1. Remote concentrators
2. Call distributors
3. Portion of a PBX or end office switch
that provides transit switching
4. Single stages in multiple-stage switches
Space Division Switching
• In most of the foregoing applications, it is
not necessary that the inlets be connectable
to every outlet.
• In situations involving large groups of
outlets, considerable savings in total cross
points can be achieved if each inlet can
access only a limited number of outlets.
• When such a situation occurs, “limited
availability” is said to exist.
• By overlapping the available outlet groups
for various inlet groups, a technique called
“grading” is established.
• An example of a graded switching matrix is
shown in Figure 5 .3
• If outlet connections are judiciously chosen,
the adverse effect of limited availability is
minimized.
Space Division Switching
• For example, if inlets 1 and 8 in Figure requests a
connection to the outlet group, outlets 1 and 3
should be chosen instead of outlets 1 and 4 to avoid
future blocking for inlet 2.
• Graded switching structures were often used for
access to large trunk groups in electromechanical
switches where Crosspoint were expensive and
individual switching modules were limited in size.
• Gradings were also used in individual switching
stages of large multiple-stage switches where more
than one path to any particular outlet exists.
• Because very large digital matrices can be
implemented with full accessibility, graded switch
structures are no longer necessary.
• Intragroup switching, as in line-to'line switching,
requires each line to be connectable to every other
line.
• Thus full availability from all inlets to all outlets of
the switching matrix is required.
Space Division Switching

• Intragroup switching, as in line-to-line switching, requires each line to be

connectable to every other line. Thus full availability from all inlets to all outlets of
the switching matrix is required.
• Figure shows two matrix structures that can be used to fully interconnect two-wire
lines.
• The dashed lines indicate that corresponding inlets and outlets of two-wire
switching matrices are actually connected together to provide bidirectional
transmission on two-wire circuits.
• It is convenient to consider the inlets and outlets of two-wire switching matrices as
being distinct for the purpose of describing the switching matrices.
Space Division Switching
• Both structures in Figure 5 .4 allow any
connection to be established by selecting a
Single crosspoint.
• The square matrix, also called as two-sided
matrix, allows any particular connection to
be established in two ways.
• For example, if input link i is to be
connected to input link j, the selected
crosspoint can be at the intersection of inlet i
and outlet j or at the intersection of inlet j
and outlet i.
• For simplicity these cross points are referred
to as(i, j) and( j, i), respectively. In a typical
implementation, cross point (i ,j) is used
when input i request service, and crosspoint
(j ' i) is used when input j request service.
Space Division Switching
• In the triangular matrix of Figure shown the
redundant cross points are eliminated.
• The cross points reduction does not come without
complications.
• Before setting up a connection between switch input i
and switch input j, the switch control element must
determine which is larger i or j. If i is larger, cross
point (i,j) is selected and if i is smaller, cross point (j,i)
must be selected.
• With computer controlled switching, the line number
comparison is trivial.
• In the older, electromechanically controlled switches
however, the added complexity of the switch control is
more significant. Triangular Matrix
Space Division Switching
• Switching machines for four-wire circuits require separate
connections for the go and return branches of a circuit.
• Thus two separate connections must be established for each
service request.
• Figure 5.5 depicts a square-matrix structure used to provide both
connections.
• The structure is identical to the square matrix shown in Figure 5.4
for two-wire switching.
• The difference, however, is that corresponding inlets and outlets
are not connected to a common two-wire input.
• All of the inlets of the four-wire switch are connected to the wire
pair carrying the incoming direction of transmission, and all of the
outlets are connected to the outgoing pairs.
• When setting up a connection between four-wire circuits i and j,
the matrix in Figure 5.5 must select both cross points (i, j) and (j, i).
• In actual operation these two cross points may be selected in
unison and implemented as a common module.
Working of switch
• A digital switch is a hardware device for
handling digital signals.
• The main function of these switches is to
manage digital signals generated or passed through a
telephone exchange and then forward it to the
telephone company's back-end network.
Working of switch
•A switch transfers signals from one input port to an
appropriate output.
•A basic problem is then how to transfer traffic to the correct
output port.
• In the early telephone network, operators closed circuits
manually.
• In modern circuit switches, this is done electronically in digital
switches.
• If no circuit is available when a call is made, it will be blocked
(rejected). When a call is finished a connection teardown is
required to make the circuit available for another user.
Crossbar Switch
•A crossbar switch with N input lines and N output lines
contains an N x N array of cross points that connect each input
line to one output line. In modern switches, each cross point is
a semiconductor gate.
Switching Functions
• Recall basic elements of communications network:
• Terminals, transmission media, and switches
• Basic
function of any switch is to set up and release connections
between transmission channels on an “as - needed basis”
• Computers are used to control the switching functions of a
central office
Switching between nodes
Switching Types
• Two different switching technologies
• Circuit switching
• Packet switching
Circuit-Switched Network
• Circuit-Switched network assigns a dedicated communication path between the two stations.
• It involves Point to Point from terminal node to network
• Internal Switching and multiplexing among switching nodes.
• Data Transfer.
• Circuit Disconnect.
Advantages
• Once connection is established. (Blocking Networks (voice) Non-Blocking Networks (computer))
• Once connection is established Network is transparent.
• Nodes seems to be directly connected.
• Fixed data rate with no delay.
Disadvantages
• Can be inefficient
• Resources are dedicated to Connection even if no data is sent.
• Delay prior to usage of connection
Space Division Switching Summary
• Developed for analog environment.
• Separate physical paths
• Recall Cross bar switch
• The no. of cross points grows with square of the lines attached.
• N ×N array of cross points.
• The loss of cross point means the loss of connection between the corresponding
points.
• Only fraction of the cross points are used even when all the points are fully
active. (sqrt of cross points)
• Non-blocking switching type.
• Less signaling requirement from the network.