Methods and systems for managing digital cross-connect matrices using virtual connection points

A system for managing a matrix of connections within a digital switching fabric, the system comprising:

• a digital switching fabric comprising a matrix of connections;
• an algorithm for managing the matrix of connections within the digital switching fabric,
• wherein the algorithm is executed by a processor and comprises the steps of:
• defining, in software, unidirectional virtual connection points modeling connections in the digital switching fabric, wherein the unidirectional virtual connection points are logical objects that are maintained in the software and define connections between network resources on actual hardware modeled with connection objects in the software;
• managing the matrix of connections, in the software, with a set of connection objects in the software, in which sources and sinks in the matrix of connections are represented by unidirectional connection termination points and the unidirectional virtual connection points,
• managing a bidirectional connection in the matrix of connections, utilizing a bidirectional connection structure comprising a first pair of unidirectional connection termination points and a second pair of unidirectional connection termination points with a first unidirectional virtual connection point disposed between the first pair and a second unidirectional virtual connection point disposed between the second pair;
• and
• wherein a cross-connect is modeled by the addition of unidirectional connection termination points and unidirectional virtual connection points to another bidirectional connection structure without interruption of traffic on the original connections thereof, in which at least one unidirectional virtual connection point acts as a selector for two or more inputs comprising at least one other unidirectional virtual connection point that is not a termination point, and as a source for two or more outputs.