摘要 |
A network node, which is designed for switching of time-division multiplex signals; contains a number of line cards (LC1-LCn), a switch fabric (SF) interconnecting the line cards (LC1-LCn), and a control system (CS). The switching fabric (SF) is a cell based switch with one or more switch modules (SE1-SEn) adapted to switch cells of a predefined cell format on the basis of addresses contained in cell headers of the cells. The line cards (LC1-LCn) have segmentation and reassembly devices (SAR1-SARn) for segmenting input time-division multiplex signals into cells of the predefined cell format and adding address information to each cell and for reassembling cells received from said switch fabric (SF) into output time-division multiplex signals. The control system (CS) is connected to a switched port of the switch fabric (SF) and exchanges with the line cards (LC1 -LCn) control and/or Operation, Administration and Maintennance (OAM) messages over the switch fabric (SF) using cells of the predefined cell format. |