Network element with redundant switching matrix

A method of switching transmission signals or fractions thereof in a digital transmission network, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first transmission signal and a second transmission signal, said signals carrying either high priority traffic or low priority traffic or any combination thereof;
• routing said first transmission signal or fractions thereof carrying high priority traffic to a first switching matrix;
• routing said second transmission signal carrying low priority traffic to a second switching matrix;
• in the case of a failure of said first switching matrix, re-routing said first transmission signal or fractions thereof to said second switching matrix.

A method of switching transmission signals or fractions thereof in a digital transmission network, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first transmission signal and a second transmission signal, said signals carrying either high priority traffic or low priority traffic or any combination thereof;
• duplicating said first transmission signal or fractions thereof carrying high priority traffic and routing the two signal copies to a first switching matrix and to a second switching matrix;
• routing said second transmission signal carrying low priority traffic to only one of the said switching matrices;
• and
• switching by the switching matrices the signals to predefined output ports.

A network element for a digital transmission network, comprising

• two or more I/O ports for receiving and transmitting transmission signals, each of said transmission signals carrying either high priority traffic or low priority traffic or a combination thereof;
• a first switching matrix for random switching received transmission signals or fractions thereof from any to any I/O port;
• a second redundant switching matrix, said second matrix being provided to take over operation of the first switching matrix in the case of a failure;
• a control system for controlling the configuration of said I/O ports and of said first and second switching matrices;
• wherein each of said I/O ports being controllably connectable to either of said two switching matrices, in that said network element comprises means to distinguish between received signals carrying high or low priority traffic, and in that said control system being adapted to control said I/O ports
• to duplicate transmission signals or fractions thereof carrying high priority traffic and to route the two signal copies to both of said switching matrices and
• to route transmission signals or fractions thereof carrying low priority traffic to only one of said switching matrices.