Apparatus for switching information between channels for synchronous information traffic and asynchronous data packets.

摘要

In a switching exchange for circuit-switched/synchronous traffic (CS) and packet-switched/asynchronous data packet traffic (PS), transmission lines (11 A, 11 B, 13 A, 13 B) communicate with FIFO buffers interconnected by a data bus (23) on which information is transferred in periodic frames. CS traffic is collected in FIFO input buffers in minipackets each carrying a local routing address. The last minipacket per frame period is identified by a special end tag. Once per frame a daisy-chain signal propagates through access control lines (27), to sequentially read out from FIFO input buffers all CS minipackets up to the next one having a special end tag, transferring them through the data bus to FIFO output buffers. Thereafter a token access mechanism starts enabling selective PS data packet transfer between FIFO input and output buffers. When a new frame begins, any PS data packet transfer in interrupted for a CS minipacket readout process, and thereafter transfer of the interrupted PS packet is resumed.