Digital cross-connect system

A digital cross-connect system for insertion in a transmission path for transmitting digital signals of high-level groups, comprising:

• a plurality of cross-connect devices each composed of multistage switch means having a plurality of input terminals for being supplied with a plurality of digital signals from the transmission path and a plurality of output terminals for outputting digital signals to the transmission path, for switching connections between said input and output terminals over at least front, intermediate and rear stages, and switch control means responsive to connection request signals for controlling switched connections effected by said multistage switch means between said input and output terminals;
• and
• a network management system for applying a one-to-one connection request signal to make a one-to-one connection between said input and output terminals and a one-to-many branch connection request signal to branch and output a digital signal supplied to one of said input terminals to said plurality of output terminals, to each of said cross-connect devices for controlling route switching on said transmission path;
• said network management system comprising:
• means for designating input and output terminals and delivering one-to-one connection and one-to-many branch connection request signals;
• and
• means for designating switch means in the rear stage of said multistage switch means with respect to the one-to-many connection request signal;
• said switch control means comprising:
• means for instructing switch means in the front stage of said multistage switch means to make a one-to-one connection only and inhibiting the switch means from making a one-to-many branch connection in response to the one-to-many connection request signal;
• and
• means for instructing the designated switch means in the rear stage of said multistage switch means to inhibit signals from being supplied from input terminals other than one designated input terminal.

A method of controlling connections in a digital cross-connect system for insertion in a transmission path for transmitting digital signal of high-level groups, the digital cross-connect system including a plurality of cross-connect devices each composed of a multistage switch having a plurality of input terminals for being supplied with a plurality of digital signals from the transmission path and a plurality of output terminals for outputting digital signals to the transmission path, for switching connections between said input and output terminals over at least front, intermediate and rear stages, and switch control device responsive to connection request signals for controlling switched connections effected by said multistage switch between said input and output terminals, and a network management system for applying a one-to-one connection request signal to make a one-to-one connection between said input and output terminals and a one-to-many branch connection request signal to branch and output a digital signal supplied to one of said input terminals to said plurality of output terminals, to each of said cross-connect devices for controlling route switching on said transmission path, said method comprising the steps of:

• designating input and output terminals and delivering one-to-one connection and one-to-many branch connection request signals;
• designating a switch in the rear stage of said multistage switch with respect to the one-to-many connection request signal;
• instructing a switch in the front stage of said multistage switch to make a one-to-one connection only and inhibiting the switch from making a one-to-many branch connection in response to the one-to-many connection request signal;
• and
• instructing the designated switch in the rear stage of said multistage switch to inhibit signals from being supplied from input terminals other than one designated input terminal.

A digital cross-connect system for insertion in a transmission path for transmitting digital signals of high-level groups, comprising:

• a plurality of cross-connect devices each composed of a multistage switch having a plurality of input terminals for being supplied with a plurality of digital signals from the transmission path and a plurality of output terminals for outputting digital signals to the transmission path, for switching connections between said input and output terminals over at least front, intermediate and rear stages, and switch control device responsive to connection request signals for controlling switched connections effected by said multistage switch between said input and output terminals;
• and
• a network management system for applying a one-to-one connection request signal to make a one-to-one connection between said input and output terminals and a one-to-many branch connection request signal to branch and output a digital signal supplied to one of said input terminals to said plurality of output terminals, to each of said cross-connect devices for controlling route switching on said transmission path;
• said network management system comprising:
• means for designating input and output terminals and delivering one-to-one connection and one-to-many branch connection request signals;
• and
• means for designating a switch in the rear stage of said multistage switch with respect to the one-to-many connection request signal;
• said switch control device comprising:
• means for instructing a switch in the front stage of said multistage switch to make a one-to-one connection only and inhibiting the switch from making a one-to-many branch connection in response to the one-to-many connection request signal;
• and
• means for instructing the designated switch in the rear stage of said multistage switch to inhibit signals from being supplied from input terminals other than one designated input terminal.