Switching system for telecommunications network

A switching system for a telecommunications network, comprising:

• a switching matrix;
• a transport interface for receiving signals from a plurality of I/O ports, the signals being arranged in channels of at least a first and a second format;
• a plurality of cross-connections for switching the signals between the I/O ports via the switching matrix;
• and
• a server operatively associated with said switching matrix and comprising format exchanging circuitry operable to receive a signal arranged in said first format and to rearrange said signal into said second format, thus producing a converted signal, and to transmit said converted signal to said switching matrix for eventual output,
• wherein said first format and said second format each have a tributary, and each said tributary comprises one of the following:
• an E-1 tributary;
• and
• a T-1 tributary;
• and wherein said first format and said second format are not identical.

A switching system for a telecommunications network, comprising:

• a switching matrix;
• a transport interface for receiving signals from a plurality of I/O ports, the signals being arranged in channels of at least a first and a second format;
• a plurality of cross-connections for switching the signals between the I/O ports via the switching matrix;
• and
• a server operatively associated with said switching matrix and comprising format exchanging circuitry operable to receive a signal arranged in said first format, thus producing a converted signal, and to transmit said converted signal to said switching matrix for eventual output,
• wherein said cross-connections are operable to demultiplex channels in said first format and remultiplex channels 'in said second format.

A switching system for a telecommunications network, comprising:

• a switching matrix;
• a transport interface for receiving signals from a plurality of I/O ports, the signals being arranged in channels of at least a first and a second format;
• a plurality of cross-connections for switching the signals between the I/O ports via the switching matrix;
• and
• a server operatively associated with said switching matrix and comprising format exchanging circuitry operable to receive a signal arranged in said first format, thus producing a converted signal, and to transmit said converted signal to said switching matrix for eventual output,
• wherein the plurality of cross-connections is comprised in the switching matrix, the switching matrix being operable to carry signals of said first format and said second format, and
• wherein the cross-connections further comprise a converting matrix operable to demultiplex channels, carry out at least one of A-law to μ-law conversions and μ-law to A-law conversions on said demultiplexed channels, and to remultiplex said channels.

A switching system for a telecommunications network, comprising:

• a switching matrix;
• a transport interface for receiving signals from a plurality of I/O ports, the signals being arranged in channels of at least a first and a second format;
• a plurality of cross-connections for switching the signals between the I/O ports via the switching matrix;
• and
• a server operatively associated with said switching matrix and comprising format exchanging circuitry operable to receive a signal arranged in said first format, thus producing a converted signal, and to transmit said converted signal to said switching matrix for eventual output,
• wherein said logical layer function includes at least facility data link in the DS I Extended Superframe Format.

A method of converting signals arranged in multiplex channels of a first format to signals arranged in multiplex channels of a second format and routing said signals, comprising the steps of:

• receiving said signals from a plurality of I/O ports;
• routing said signals over a matrix to a central converter;
• demultiplexing said channels of a first format into individual channels;
• converting said individual channels into channels of said second format;
• remultiplexing said channels of said second format;
• and
• routing said remultiplexed channels over said matrix to appropriate output ports.

A method of performing logical layer functions in switching system for a telecommunications network, comprising:

• receiving signals from a plurality of I/O ports, the signals being arranged in multiplexed channels;
• providing a plurality of cross-connections for switching the signals between the I/O ports via the switching matrix;
• and
• providing a server operatively associated with said switching matrix to receive a signal arranged in a multiplexed format and to perform logical layer functions on said multiplexed channel so as to generate a converted signal, and to transmit said converted signal to said switching matrix for eventual output,
• wherein said logical layer function includes at least facility data link in the DS1 Extended Superframe Format.