Introduction to Telecom Switching : Circuit Switching, Packet Switching, Optical Switching, Crossbar, TSI, Data Routing, and Virtual Circuits

Switching systems provide interconnected paths between points or nodes in communication networks. Some of these connections provide for continuous (circuit oriented) communication while others provide for independent bursts (packet oriented) data transmission. This excerpted chapter from Telecom Basics, 2nd Edition provides an overview of how circuit and packet switching systems operate. It describes the operation of crossbar, time slot interchange (TSI), optical, and high-speed packet switches. Packet data communication along with jitter buffers are explained. An introduction of switching in data networks using routers, switching hubs, gateways, and bridges is provided along with the theory and operation of permanent and switched virtual circuits (PVCs and SVCs).