TDM circuit-switching arrangement that handles frames of different sizes

A switching arrangement comprising:

• means for receiving a plurality of time-division multiplex frames of different sizes;
• a time-division multiplex (TDM) circuit-switching circuitry whose use is time-shared by the different-size frames;
• and
• means connected to the receiving means and to the TDM circuit-switching circuitry for interleaving the switching of portions of different-size ones of the received frames in a time-shared manner in the shared TDM circuit-switching circuitry;
• wherein
• the means for interleaving switching commence switching of a received individual frame of any size as soon as an entire said individual frame is received.

A switching method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of time-division multiplex frames of different sizes;
• commencing switching of a received individual frame of any size as soon as an entire said individual frame is received;
• and
• interleaving of time-division multiplex (TDM) circuit-switching of portions of different-size ones of the received frames in a time-shared manner in a TDM circuit-switching circuitry whose use is shared by the different-size

A method of switching flames in a time-division multiplex (TDM) circuit-switching circuitry whose use is time- shared by all switched flames, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of time-division multiplex frames of different sizes;
• commencing switching of a received individual frame of any size as soon as an entire said individual frame is received;
• and
• interleaving the time-division multiplex circuit-switching of portions of different-size ones of the received frames in a time-shared manner in the shared TDM circuit-switching circuitry.

Apparatus for switching signals carried in time channels that are multiplexed in time-division multiplex (TDM) frames having frame periods and including sub-frames having sub-frame periods, the apparatus comprising:

• a single TDM circuit switch;
• means for conducting signals to and from the single TDM circuit switch;
• and
• means for operating the single TDM circuit switch in a plurality of cycles of operation, different ones of said plurality of cycles having the frame periods and the sub-frame periods and portions of said different one of said cycles being interleaved, thereby to switch the time channels of the signals through the single TDM circuit switch to provide, via the single TDM circuit switch, time channels of switched signals having different bandwidths, including
• means for causing the single TDM circuit switch to commence switching of individual signals that are multiplexed in a TDM frame of signals being conducted to the single TDM circuit switch as soon as entire sub-frames of the TDM frame which correspond to the individual signals are received by the single TDM circuit switch.

A method of switching signals Carried in time channel that are multiplexed in time-division multiplex (TDM) frames having frame periods and including sub-frames having sub-frame periods, comprising the steps of:

• operating a single TDM circuit switch in a plurality of cycles of operation, different ones of said plurality of cycles having the frame periods and the sub-frame periods and portions of said different ones of said cycles being interleave, thereby to switch time channels of the signals through the single TDM circuit switch to provide, via the single TDM circuit switch, time channels of switched signals having different bandwidths, including
• commencing to switch individual signals that are multiplexed in a TDM frame of signals being conducted to the single TDM circuit switch as soon as entire sub-frames of the TDM frame which correspond to the individual signals are received by the single TDM circuit switch;
• and
• conducting signals to and from the single TDM circuit switch.