Importance

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Abstract

A switching node for an optical communications switched network includes a circuit switch for making relatively long duration circuit-switched connections and an ATM message switch, which is coupled in the network via the circuit switch, for communicating relatively short duration messages or datagrams. The messages include signalling messages for establishing the circuit-switched connections, the ATM switch being coupled to control circuitry of the circuit switch for communication of such messages. The control circuitry includes free channel queues which enable the communication of signalling messages throughout a network to be effected rapidly without delays due to the time division multiplex frames in accordance with which the circuit switch is operated. In a preferred form, the control circuitry is constituted by a micro-controller and random access memory.

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First Claim