Data and Computer Communications Part 3 - Wide area Networks Concepts

Chapter 9 Circuit Switching

Switching Networks
Long distance transmission is typically done over a network of switched nodes Nodes are not concerned with content of data End devices are referred to as stations
Computer, terminal, phone, etc.

A collection of nodes and connections is a communications network Data is routed by being switched from node to node
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Switching Networks
Communication Network
Switching Network (used in WAN) Broadcast Network (used in LAN)

Switching Networks
Circuit-switching networks Packet-switching networks

Nodes
Nodes may connect to other nodes only, or to stations and other nodes Node to node links are usually multiplexed A network is usually partially connected
But some redundant connections are desirable for reliability Two different switching technologies exist: Circuit switching Packet switching

Simple Switched Network

Simple switching network

Communication Network Node

provides switching facility (routing)

Network Station

end node (source & destination)

Communication is achieved by transmitting data from source to destination through a network of switching nodes Communication Network

Switching technology

Circuit switching

need a connection established between end nodes connection is maintained until one of end nodes terminates Connection is dedicated to the communication between two nodes Example : Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN)

Packet switching

data are transmitted in short messages called packets a connection between the two end-nodes is not maintained a node-to-node link can be dynamically shared by many packets Example : Public Data Network (PDN) like X.25, Frame Relay

Key differences
Keys
data node status connection utilization data rate Prioritization

Circuit switching
dedicated single route both must be ready dedicated

Packet switching
different routes sender ready to send is enough shared

poor
fixed not supported

good
varies supported

Public Switching Telephone Network

end office subscriber loop Long-distance office

Intercity trunk

subscriber loop (local loop)

link between subscriber and network

connecting trunk (exchanges)

switching center; localized support for subscriber

Intercity trunk (trunks)

connecting trunk

branches between exchanges; carry multiple voice circuits

PSDN
PSDN is designed specifically for the transmission of data rather than voice Communication is shared
PSDN= Public Switched Data Network
LAN

LAN

PSDN

LAN

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Packets

data

header

data

header

data

header

data

packet

packet

packet

Messages are broken up into a series of packets Header is used to route the packet through the network

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PSDN switching approach

Virtual Circuit

network protocols establish a logical route called virtual circuit packets use the same route; data arrive in order similar to circuit switching ! but the route is not dedicated need call setup

Datagram

each packet is transmitted independently network protocols route each packet as though it were a separate message packet may not arrive in order; need protocol to ensure ordering call setup is not required

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Virtual circuit
B

1.3
A 2.3

1.2 2.2

1.1 2.1 C

A logical connection known as virtual circuit (VC) is set up between two stations. Packets are labeled with a virtual circuit number and a sequence number

virtual circuit #1
B 2 A 1 3 5 C 4

virtual circuit #2 13

Datagram
B

B.3
A C.3

B.2 B.1 C.2 C.1 C

Each packet is transmitted independently. Packets are labeled with a destination address and may arrive out of sequence

B.3 2 A 1 B.1 3

B.2 4 C.1

C.3

C.2

5 C

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Routing methods in packet switching

Fixed routing

each packet is transmitted independently

Flooding

network protocol establishes a logical route called virtual circuit packets use the same route; data arrive in order

Random routing

the route taken is random

Adaptive routing

the route reacts to changing conditions within the network

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Circuit-Switching Networks
During communication, a dedicated communication path exists between sender and receiver; e.g., telephone system. Communication involves 3 phases: Circuit establishment: Call request propagates, hop by hop through the network, to establish a dedicated link (channels in each component link in some path, from sender to receiver) Data transfer: continuous transfer; either analog or digital signal Circuit disconnect: circuit disconnect signal to deallocate the links

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Circuit-Switching
Definition: Communication in which a dedicated communications path is established between two devices through one or more intermediate switching nodes Dominant in both voice and data communications today
e.g. PSTN is a circuit-switched network

Relatively inefficient (100% dedication even without 100% utilization)

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Circuit Switching
Dedicated communication path between two stations Three phases
Establish Transfer Disconnect

Must have switching capacity and channel capacity to establish connection Must have intelligence to work out routing

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Circuit-Switching Stages
Circuit establishment Transfer of information
point-to-point from endpoints to node internal switching/multiplexing among nodes

Circuit disconnect

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Circuit-Switching Networks
Disadvantages:
Both stations need to be simultaneously ready Inefficient use of link capacities, especially with bursty intermittent traffic

Advantages
Low delay once circuit is established

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Circuit-Switching Networks
Public telephone network Best-known example of a circuit-switching network Four generic architectural components Subscribers - Devices that attach to the network Local loop - The link between the subscriber and the network (end office). Also called subscriber loop Exchanges - Switching centers in the network. End offices, long-distance offices, Trunks - Links between exchanges. Carry multiple voice channels by using FDM or synchronous TDM

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Circuit Switching - Applications

Inefficient
Channel capacity dedicated for duration of connection If there is no data, capacity wasted

Set up (connection) takes time Once connected, transfer is transparent Developed for voice traffic (phone)

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Public Circuit Switched Network

Connecting Trunk

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Circuit-Switching Networks

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AT&T telephone hierarchy

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Switching Concepts
Single circuit-switched node network
A collection of stations attached to a central switching unit The central switch establishes a dedicated path between any two devices that wish to communicate

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Switching Concepts
Digital switch Establishes a dedicated path between any two devices Control unit Establishes, maintains, and tears down the connection Network interface (circuit) switch Blocking Nonblocking

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Telecommunication Components
Subscriber
Devices attached to network

Local Loop
Subscriber loop Connection to network

Exchange
Switching centers End office - supports subscribers

Trunks
Branches between exchanges Multiplexed
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Circuit Switching Node's Elements

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Circuit Switching Node's Elements

Digital Switch
Provides transparent signal path between devices

Network Interface (functions & hardware needed to

connect devices to the network) Establish connections
Generally on demand Handle and acknowledge requests Determine if destination is free construct path

Control Unit; its function is to:

Maintain connection Disconnect

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Circuit Switching Node: Digital Switch

Provides transparent signal path between any pair of attached devices Typically full-duplex

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Circuit-Switching Node: Network Interface

Provides hardware and functions to connect digital devices to switch Analog devices can be connected if interface includes CODEC functions Typically full-duplex

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Circuit-Switching Node: Control Unit

Establishes on-demand connections Maintains connection while needed Breaks down connection on completion

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Blocking or Non-blocking
An important characteristic of a circuit-switching device is whether it is blocking or non-blocking.

Blocking
A network is unable to connect stations because all paths are in use Used on voice systems
example: Short duration calls

Non-blocking
Permits all stations to connect (in pairs) at once Used for some data connections

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Blocking/Nonblocking Networks
Blocking: network is unable to connect two stations because all possible paths are already in use Nonblocking: permits all possible connection requests because any two stations can be connected

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There are 2 Types of Switching Techniques Internal to a Single Circuit-Switching Node:

1. Space-Division Switching
2. Time-Division Switching

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Switching Techniques
Space-Division Switching
Developed for analog environment, but has been carried over into digital communication Requires separate physical paths for each signal connection Uses metallic or semiconductor gates

Time-Division Switching
Used in digital transmission Utilizes multiplexing to place all signals onto a common transmission path Bus must have higher data rate than individual I/O lines

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Space Division Switch

Developed for the analog environment (but is now used for both analog & digital signals) Separate physical paths for every channel (signal path) Its basic device is the Crossbar switch
Number of crosspoints grows as square of number of stations Loss of crosspoint prevents connection Inefficient use of crosspoints
All stations connected, only a few crosspoints in use

Non-blocking
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Crossbar Matrix (switch)

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Multistage Switch
Reduced number of crosspoints More than one path through network
Results in increased reliability

More complex control May be blocking

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Three Stage Switch

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Time Division Switching

Partition low speed bit stream into pieces that share higher speed stream e.g. TDM bus switching
based on synchronous time division multiplexing Each station connects through controlled gates to high speed bus Time slot allows small amount of data onto bus Another lines gate is enabled for output at the same time

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Routing in Circuit-Switched Networks

Traditional circuit-switched model is hierarchical, sometimes supplemented with peer-to-peer trunks Newer circuit-switched networks are dynamically routed: all nodes are peer-to-peer, making routing more complex

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Routing in Circuit-Switching Networks

Many connections will need paths through more than one switch Therefore, the network needs to find an appropriate route. Important factors are:
Efficiency Resilience

Public telephone switches are a tree structure

Static routing uses the same approach all the time Dynamic routing allows for changes in routing depending on traffic
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Alternate Routing
Possible routes between two end offices are predefined Originating switch selects the best route for each call Routing paths can be fixed (1 route) or dynamic (multiple routes, selected based on current and historical traffic)

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Alternate Routing Diagram

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Control Signaling
Control unit manages the establishment, maintenance, and termination of signal paths Includes signaling from subscriber to network, and signals within network In-channel signaling uses the same channel for control signals and calls Common-channel signaling uses independent channels for controls (e.g. SS7)

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Control Signaling Functions

The means by which the network is managed, calls are established, maintained, and terminated Audible communication with subscriber Transmission of dialed number Call cannot be completed indication Call ended indication Signal to ring phone Billing info Equipment and trunk status info Diagnostic info Control of special equipment
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Control Signal Sequence

Both phones on hook Subscriber lifts receiver (off hook) End office switch signaled Switch responds with dial tone Caller dials number If target is not busy, ringer signal is sent to target subscriber Feedback to caller
Ringing tone, engaged tone, unobtainable (disconnected line, etc.)

Target accepts call by lifting receiver Switch terminates ringing signal and ringing tone Switch establishes connection Connection is released when Source subscriber hangs up 49

Switch to Switch Signaling

Subscribers connected to different switches Originating switch seizes inter-switch trunk Off hook signal is sent on trunk, requesting a digit register at target switch (so that address may be communicated) Terminating switch sends off hook followed by on hook (known as wink) to show register-ready status Originating switch sends address
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Control Signals through a Circuit-Switching Telephone Network

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Location of Signaling
Subscriber to network
Depends on subscriber device and switch

Within network
is concerned with management of subscriber calls and network More complex

Two types of control signaling are used in circuit switching networks:

In-channel signaling Common channel signaling
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In-Channel Signaling
Use same channel for signaling and call
Requires no additional transmission facilities

Inband
Uses same frequencies as voice signal Can go anywhere a voice signal can Impossible to set up a call on a faulty speech path (because the control signals used to set up the path have to follow same path)

Out of band
Voice signals do not use full 4kHz bandwidth Narrow signal band within 4kHz used for control Can be sent whether or not voice signals are present Requires extra electronics Slower signal rate (narrow bandwidth)

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Drawbacks of In Channel Signaling

Limited transfer rate Delay between entering address (dialing) and connection This is overcome by use of common channel signaling

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Common Channel Signaling

Control signals carried over paths independent of voice channel One control signal channel (path) can carry signals for a number of subscriber channels and is therefore the common control channel for these subscriber lines (channels) Two modes of operation are used in Common channel signaling: Associated Mode
Common channel closely tracks inter-switch trunks

Disassociated Mode
Additional nodes (signal transfer points) Effectively two separate networks
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Common v. In Channel Signaling

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Common Channel Signaling Modes

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Signaling System Number 7

SS7 It is the most widely used common channel signaling scheme Used in ISDN Optimized for 64kbps digital channel network Call control, remote control, management and maintenance Reliable means of transfer of info in sequence Will operate over analog and below 64k Point to point terrestrial and satellite links Although the network being controlled is a circuit switched network, the control signaling is implemented 58 using packet switching technology

SS7 Signaling Network Elements

Signaling point (SP)
Any point in the network capable of handling SS7 control messages

Signal transfer point (STP)

A signaling point capable of routing control messages

Control plane
Responsible for establishing and managing connections

Information plane
Once a connection is set up, info is transferred in the information plane
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Transfer Points

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Signaling Network Structures

STP capacities
Number of signaling links that can be handled Message transfer time Throughput capacity

Network performance
Number of SPs Signaling delays

Availability and reliability

Ability of network to provide services in the face of STP failures
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