Switching network for use in a time division multiplex system

Claim 2

A switching network for use in a TDM (time division multiplex) system for switching digital signals carried in timeslots on N incoming buses to timeslots on M outgoing buses, wherein N and M are positive integers, N≧2, and M≧2, said network comprising: a plurality of storage means, said plurality of storage means being divided into N first groupings of N/n storage means each, each said first grouping sequentially and cyclically being responsive to n incoming buses, one said incoming bus at a time, wherein n is a positive integer, n is a factor of N, and 2≦n≦N; and said outgoing buses being divided into groups of n buses each, one bus of each outgoing group sequentially and cyclically being responsive to storage means in one of M/n second groupings of said storage means, N/n storage means at a time, wherein each said second grouping of said storage means comprises N storage means comprising no more than one storage means from each of said first groupings.

Claim 3

The switching network of claim 1 wherein n equals two.

Claim 4

The switching network of claim 1 wherein n equals three.

Claim 5

The switching network of claim 2 wherein N=M.

Claim 6

The switching network of claim 3 wherein N=M.

Claim 7

The switching network of claim 4 wherein N equals two, four, or six.

Claim 8

The switching network of claim 5 wherein N equals three, six, or nine.

Claim 9

A switching network for use in a TDM (time division multiplex) system for switching digital signals carried in timeslots on P pairs of incoming buses to timeslots on P pairs of outgoing buses, wherein P is a positive integer, P≧1, said network comprising: P pairs of memory means, each said pair of memory means responsive to a pair of incoming buses, in a one to one relationship, each said memory means comprising P storage means; and each pair of outgoing buses being responsive to a distinct group of 2P storage means, each said group of storage means comprising one storage means from each of said memory means.

Claim 10

A switching network for use in a TDM (time division multiplex) system for switching digital signals carried in timeslots on P pairs of incoming buses to timeslots on P pairs of outgoing buses, wherein P is a positive integer, P≧1, said network comprising: P pairs of memory means, each said pair of memory means responsive to a pair of incoming buses, in a one to one relationship, each said memory means comprising P storage means; and each pair of outgoing buses being responsive to a distinct group of 2P storage means, each said group of storage means comprising one storage means from each of said memory means.

Claim 11

The switching network of claim 8 wherein each bus, of each pair of buses, is interchangeable, one with the other, at a predetermined constant rate.

Claim 12

The switching network of claim 9 wherein said constant rate is once per frame.

Claim 13

The switching network of claim 8, 9, or 10 wherein each said storage means has the capacity to store at least two full frames of data.

Claim 14

The switching network of claim 8 wherein each bus, of each pair of incoming buses, is interchangeable, one with the other, at a predetermined constant rate.

Claim 15

The switching network of claim 8 wherein each bus, of each pair of outgoing buses, is interchangeable, one with the other, at a predetermined constant rate.

Claim 16

The switching network of claim 12 or 13 wherein said constant rate is once per frame.

Claim 17

The switching network of claim 8, 12, or 13 wherein P equals two.

Claim 18

The switching network of claim 8 wherein each said group of 2P storage means is divided into two sections, each said section comprising storage means responsive to different pairs of incoming buses, and each outgoing bus, of each pair of outgoing buses, alternately being responsive to each said section of said group.

Claim 19

The switching network of claim 16 wherein P equals two and wherein each memory means, of each said pair of memory means, alternately being responsive to each incoming bus of said pair of incoming buses, at the same rate as said outgoing bus alternates between said sections.

Claim 20

The switching network of claim 16 or 17 wherein said rate is once per frame.

Claim 21

A switching network for use in a TDM (time division multiplex) system for switching digital signals carried in timeslots on four incoming buses to timeslots on four outgoing buses, said network comprising: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth storage means wherein (a) said first and second storage means are selectively responsive to signals appearing on said first and second incoming buses, (b) said third and fourth storage means are selectively responsive to signals appearing on said first and second incoming buses, (c) said fifth and sixth storage means are selectively responsive to signals appearing on said third and fourth incoming buses, and (d) said seventh and eighth storage means are selectively responsive to signals appearing on said third and fourth incoming buses; said first outgoing bus is selectively responsive to signals stored in either said first and fifth storage means or said third and seventh storage means; said second outgoing bus is selectively responsive to signals stored in either said third and seventh storage means or said first and fifth storage means; said third outgoing bus is selectively responsive to signals stored in either said second and sixth storage means or said fourth and eighth storage means; and said fourth outgoing bus is selectively responsive to signals stored in either said fourth and eighth storage means or said second and sixth storage means.

Claim 22

A switching network for use in a TDM (time division multiplex) system for switching digital signals carried in timeslots on four incoming buses to timeslots on four outgoing buses, said network comprising: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth storage means wherein (a) said first and second storage means are selectively responsive to signals appearing on said first and second incoming buses, (b) said third and fourth storage means are selectively responsive to signals appearing on said first and second incoming buses, (c) said fifth and sixth storage means are selectively responsive to signals appearing on said third and fourth incoming buses, and (d) said seventh and eighth storage means are selectively responsive to signals appearing on said third and fourth incoming buses; said first outgoing bus is selectively responsive to signals stored in either said first and fifth storage means or said third and seventh storage means; said second outgoing bus is selectively responsive to signals stored in either said third and seventh storage means or said first and fifth storage means; said third outgoing bus is selectively responsive to signals stored in either said second and sixth storage means or said fourth and eighth storage means; and said fourth outgoing bus is selectively responsive to signals stored in either said fourth and eighth storage means or said second and sixth storage means.

Claim 23

The switching network of claim 19 wherein each said storage means has the capacity to store at least two full frames of data.

Claim 24

The switching network of claim 19 and 20 wherein a storage means is only responsive to one incoming bus per frame and wherein an outgoing bus is only responsive to one pair of storage means per frame.

Claim 25

The switching network of claim 19 wherein said first and second storage means are responsive to signals alternately from said first and second incoming buses and said third and fourth storage means are responsive to signals alternately from said first and second incoming buses such that said first and second storage means are not simultaneously responsive to the same incoming bus as are said third and fourth storage means; and wherein said fifth and sixth storage means are responsive to signals alternately from said third and fourth incoming buses and said seventh and eighth storage means are responsive to signals alternately from said third and fourth incoming buses such that said fifth and sixth storage means are not simultaneously responsive to the same incoming bus as are said seventh and eighth storage means.

Claim 26

The switching network of claim 22 wherein the alternating occurs at the rate of once per frame of data on the incoming buses.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 wherein N=M.

Claim 30

The method of claim 25 wherein N equals four and n equals two.

Claim 31

The method of claim 25 wherein N equals six and n equals two.

Claim 32

The method of claim 25 wherein N equals two and n equals two.

Claim 33

The method of claim 25 wherein N equals three and n equals three.

Claim 34

The method of claim 24, 25 or 26 wherein each said storage means has the capacity to store at least n full frames of data.

Claim 35

The switching network of claim 1, 2, or 4 wherein the rate at which things sequentially change is once every frame.