DISTRIBUTED CIRCUIT SWITCHED RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

摘要

A plurality of transmitting and receiving stations are provided at randomly distributed locations within a telecommunication network, and switching circuitry is provided within the stations themselves for routing of calls between stations in the network utilizing other stations in the network for relaying of such calls where necessary. To this end each station (20) incorporates a call routing control unit acting to select a further station (21) to which a call from a source S to a destination D is to be transmitted for the purpose of relaying the call. The call routing control unit transmits an interrogation signal to be received by other stations in the network within range of the transmitting station (20), and the call routing control unit of each of the other stations (21) transmits an acknowledgement signal when the station (21) is available for relaying a call in response to the interrogation signal received from the station (20), the acknowledgement signal being transmitted after a delay which is indicative of the suitability of the station (21) for relaying the call towards its intended destination. The call routing control unit of the station (20) then selects a station (21) for relaying the call on the basis of receipt of an acknowledgement signal from the station after the least delay.