Circuit Switched Networks

A Circuit Switched N/w consists of a set of switches connected by physical links.

A connection b/w ‘2’ stations is dedicated path made of one (or) more links. Each connection uses only one dedicated channel on each link.

i.e, each link is divided into n channels either by using TDM (or) FDM.

This circuit consists of 4 switches I, II, III and IV and Multiplexers with n=’3′ channels and one link.

In some circuits Multiplexing can be implicitly included in the switch fabric it self. In this circuit the end systems are connected to a switch for simplicity consider ‘2’ end systems A and M, connected to the switches I and III.

when A needs to communicate with M . A needs to request to a connection to M, which must be accepted by all switches and by M it self- which is called setup phase.

a channel circuit is reserved on each link and the combination of circuits forms a dedicated path. After establishing path data transfer can take place. The next phase is tear down.

i.e, after all data have been transferred. Generally circuit-switching takes place at the physical layer.

Before Communication (starting), the stations must make reservation for the resources like channels, switch buffers switch i/o ports switch processing time and are dedicated during the entire duration of data transfer until the tear down phase.

Data transferred is not packatized that is data is send as a continuous flow b/w source and destination.

there is end-to-end addressing in setup phase.

The 3 phases involved are:-

Circuit switched N/w’s requires ‘3’  setup phases

1. Connection-setup.
2. Data transfer.
3. Tear down.

Setup Phase:-

A dedicated circuit is established before the ‘2’ communicating parties talk to each other.

i.e, creating  a dedicated channels b/w switches. To communicate A with M . initially a requesting process as follows

A to I, I to IV and IV to III, III to M and an acknowledgement in the reverse order after the reception of ‘ack’ a connection is established.

Data Transfer Phase:-

In this phase data transfer occurs b/w the ‘2’ devices.

Tear down phase:-

To disconnect , a signal is sent to each switch to release the resources by any one of station.

Efficiency of Circuit Switched Network:-

These are less efficient in terms of allocated resources. Since all the resources are allocated during the entire duration of the connection  and these resources are un available to other connections.

Delay in this type of N/w’s is due to establishment of connection , data transfer and disconnecting the circuit.

Switching at the physical layer in the traditional telephone N/w uses the circuit switching approach.

Author: Lakshmi Prasanna Ponnala

Completed M.Tech in Digital Electronics and Communication Systems.

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