Circuit Switching

by Dr. Nguyen Minh Hoang hoang.dhbk@gmail.com March 2007

References

Reference books:

Data Communications and Networking, 4/e, by Behrouz A. Forouzan, DeAnza College

(http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0072967757/information_center_view0/)

Data & Computer Communications by William Stallings (

http://williamstallings.com/DCC/DCC7e.html)

Introduction

How can we connect multiple devices?

Better solution switching Switches: hardware and/or software devices allowing temporary connections between two or more devices Three methods: circuit, packet, and message

Point-to-point vs. Multipoint

Example of a Switched Network

Circuit Switching

Creates a direct physical connection between two devices Originally developed for voice traffic Does not use point-to-point connections between every device to every other device Instead, devices link to a switch which may in turn link to other switches Allows for a dedicated connection for duration of transmission

Circuit Switching

Space-division switching Time-division switching TDM Bus Combinations

Circuit switching: create a direct physical connection between 2 devices such as phones or computers

Circuit Switch vs. Folded Switch

n inputs, m outputs

n lines in full duplex

Folded Switch: An n-by-n folded

switch allows every device to connect to every other device in full-duplex mode

Space-Division Switch

The paths in the circuit are separated from each other spatially Originally for analog networks, but now for both analog and digital Crossbar switch Multistage switch

Crossbar Switch
Inputs and outputs connected in a grid using electronic microswitches (transistors) at crosspoints

Disadvantage???
Too many crosspoints, only a few used at any given time Inefficient; fewer than 25% of switches are in used at a given time

Multistage Switches

Combine crossbar switches in several stages Devices are linked to switches that are linked to a hierarchy of other switches Middle stages usually have fewer switches than first and last stages Fewer crosspoints but still allowing multiple paths through the network increased reliability

Multistage Switch (1)

A set of crossbar switches in several stages

Use a 15x15 crossbar => 225 crosspoints Use the above multistage =>78 crosspoints

Multistage Switch
Multiple paths available for each pair of devices => reliable

Disadvantage???

Blocking problem when heavy traffic, experienced in public phone systems

Blocking

Reduced number of crosspoints may mean that at times of heavy traffic, an input may not be able to connect to an output if there is no path available (i.e. all switches are occupied) Does not occur in single-stage switch; a non-blocking path is always available

Time-Division Switches

Uses time-division multiplexing to achieve switching Used by most modern switches TD switching involves partitioning low speed bit stream into pieces that share higher speed stream Two methods:

Time-slot interchange (TSI) TDM bus

Based on synchronous time division multiplexing (TDM) Each station connects through controlled gates to high speed bus Time slot allows small amount of data onto bus Another lines gate is enabled for output at the same time

TDM with a Time Slot Interchange

Without a TSI, order is unchanged

1->3, 2->4, 3->1, 4->2

Time Slot Interchange (TSI)

Consists of RAM with several memory locations Fills up with incoming data from time slots in order received Slots are sent out in order based on control unit logic

#memory locations = # inputs size of mem. loc. = size of a time slot

Cannot handle bursty traffic

TDM Bus

Input and output lines are connected to a high-speed bus through input and output gates Control unit opens and closes gates as needed

Time vs. Space Division Switch

Time division

No crosspoints Delay Many crosspoints Zero delay

Space division

Space- and Time-Division Switching Combinations

Advantage of space-division switching is it is instantaneous; however, requires too many crosspoints Advantage of time-division switching is it needs no crosspoints; however, processing connections creates delays Combining them optimizes the number of crosspoints and reduces the amount of delay

TSS: Time-Space-Space TSST: Time-Space-Space-Time STTS: Space-Time-Time-Space

TST Switch

Telephone Networks
1876: Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone 1878: Bell Telephone Company first operated 1984: AT&T breakup => AT&T Long Lines and 23 Bell Operating Companies, and a few other pieces Since 1996: Any company can provide local or long-distance services

Telephone Network Structure

~22,000 end offices in US, each having up to 10,000 local loops Local loop: analog 1-10km => how far is it if we stretch out all the local loops in the world? Trunks between switching offices: coax, microwave, fiber optics All trunks and switches are now digital

Major Components

Local loops twisted-pair cable connecting subscriber phone to nearest end office or local central office

Trunks transmission media that handles communication between offices

Bandwidth of 4000 Hz (4 KHz)

Switching Office connects local loops or trunks allowing connections between subscribers

Muxing through optical fibers or satellite links

Major Components

LATAs

Local Access and Transport Area defines the boundary of a service area Intra-LATA services are provided by local exchange carriers (LEC)

Incumbent local exchange carriers Competitive local exchange carriers

Communication is handled by end switches and tandem switches

Services

Inter-LATA services are handled by interexchange carriers (IXCs) longdistance companies To provide these services, each IXC must have a POP (Point of Presence) inside each LATA

Local Access Transport Areas (LATAs)

200+ LATAs in the US Intra-LATA services

Services offered by the common carriers (telephone companies) inside a LATA Such a carrier = local exchange carrier (LEC) Before 1996: 1 LEC in a LATA => monopoly After 1996: 1+ LEC inside a LATA

The LEC that owns the local loops system is called incumbent LEC (ILEC) => provide main services Extra carrier = competitive LEC (CLEC) => extra services: mobile, toll calls, etc.

Switching Offices in a LATA

Calls that go through a tandem office is charged Calls that are completed by using only end offices are toll-free

Inter-LATA Services

IXCs: inter-exchange carriers, a. k. a. longdistance companies, provide communication between 2 customers in different LATAs

IXCs provide general data communications services including telephone. Phone service is normally digitized How do IXCs interact with LECs? Use POP

AT&T, MCI, WorldCom , Sprint, Verizon

Point of Presence (POP)

Example PSTN Network

Belongs to LEC (Local-Exchange Carrier) C.O. Phone Local loop
lin e

Phone

Local loop Inter-exchange circuit

tru nk

LATA - B

LATA - A
P.O.P.

trunk line P.O.P.

C.O.

Belongs to IXC (Inter-eXchange Carrier)

GOLDMAN & RAWLES: ADC3e FIG. 02-03

Example PSTN Network

C s: l s1 a rgn cnr eo l ee i a ts C s: l s1 a rgn cnr eo l ee i a ts C s: l s2 a sc n cnr ei a ee to l t s C s: l s2 a sc n cnr ei a ee to l t s

C s: l s3 a p a cnr r r ee i y ts m

C s: l s3 a p a cnr r r ee i y ts m

C s: l s4 a t l cnr o ee l ts

C s: l s4 a t l cnr o ee l ts

C s: l s5 a l clcna fi e o erloc a t f T d oc a e fi e n mf

C s: l s5 a l clcna fi e o erloc a t f

Representative Voice Network Hierarchy

La ol c lo os p La ol c lo os p

Ri ei l ed ta sn cs m uoe t r

Bi e un s ss cs m uoe t r L a ai r D a on ec I ta A o lCr ' o i fI fu en - T c r es m n l n, r L A

Ri ei l ed ta sn csm uoe t r

Bi e un s ss cs m uoe t r

Making Connections

Subscriber telephones are connected through local loops to end offices Accessing the switching station at the end offices is accomplished via dialing Dialing

Before: use Rotary or pulse dialing

Today: touchtone dialing

for each number dialed, a digital signal is sent to end office Prone to errors due to inconsistency of humans during dialing

Rotary and Touchtone Dialing

Touchtone: Number 8 = 2 bursts of signals with f1=1336Hz and f2=852Hz

Analog Switched Telephone Services

Familiar dial-up service, analog local loop Local calls Toll call

800 (888, 877, 866) services:

intra- (when LATA is large) or inter-LATA organization pays for call

Wide area telephone service (WATS):

900 services

Organization pays for outbound call at rate cheaper than long distance Caller pays for call, much more expensive than longdistance

Analog Leased Lines

A line is dedicated permanently between 2 customers This line goes through a switch, but seen as a single line because the switch for it is always closed. No dialing is needed

Digital Telephone Services

Less sensitive to noise and other interference Switch/56

Digital Data Service (DDS)

digital version of analog switched line, data up to 56Kbps Line is digital, no need for modem, but need a digital service unit (DSU) Support bandwidth on demand, can use more lines for more bandwidth => can use video conferencing, fast fax, fast data transfer, among other services Digital version of analog leased line, up to 64Kbps

High-speed digital: T-lines and home networks

Question?