A Term Paper on: Circuit Switching

ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, (COMMUNICATIONS OPTION) GROU

EEG 829 – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
October 2018
Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................2

2.0 CIRCUIT-SWITCHED NETWORKS...........................................................................................4

2.1 The Switching Node Architecture..............................................................................................5

3.0 SWITCHING TECHNOLOGIES...................................................................................................6

3.1 Space-Division Switching...........................................................................................................6

3.2 Time-Division Switching............................................................................................................9

3.3 Frequency and Wavelength-Division Switching......................................................................10

4.0 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CIRCUIT SWITCHING................................12

5.0 COMPARISON BETWEEN CIRCUIT SWITCHING AND PACKAGE SWITCHING...........15

5.1 Circuit Switching......................................................................................................................15

5.2 Packet Switching.......................................................................................................................16

5.3 Comparison between CS vs. PS networks................................................................................17

6.0 OPTICAL CIRCUIT SWITCHING.............................................................................................18

7.0 CIRCUIT – SWITCHING NETWORK PERFORMANCES......................................................20

7.1 Delay.........................................................................................................................................21

7.2 Blocking....................................................................................................................................22

8.0 PROSPECTS OF CIRCUIT SWITCHING..................................................................................24

9.0 CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................24

10.0 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................25

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 CIRCUIT SWITCHING1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The fundamental purpose of a communication system is to exchange information between

two or more devices. Such a system can be optimized for voice, data, or both. In its

simplest form, a communication system can be established between two nodes (or stations)

that are directly connected by some form of point-to-point transmission medium. A station

may be a PC, telephone, fax machine, mainframe, or any other communicating device [1].

In a case where there are many devices, it is necessary to develop a suitable mechanism for

communication between any two devices. One alternative is to establish point-to-point

communication between each pair of devices using mesh topology. However, mesh

topology is impractical for large number of devices, because the number of links increases

exponentially (n(n-1)/2, where n is the number of devices) with the number of devices and

also this may, however, be impractical, if there are many geographically dispersed nodes or

the communication requires dynamic connection between different nodes at various times.

Another alternative method to a point to point connection is to establish or use a switched

communication network with the use of switching techniques. This switched

communication network consists of interconnected nodes through which information passes

from the source to the destination. These nodes are responsible for transferring information

from the source to the destination. Some nodes are connected to another node while some

are connected to the stations. These nodes are switching nodes. Switched communication

networks can be categorized into different types such as the following:

• Circuit-switched networks.

• Packet-switched networks.
1
Group Members are:
1. Gladys Inioluwa
2. Kypus Ayebaesin Ikaye 179043052
3. Anwoloju Ezekiel 179043036
4. Ijike Kinglsey 179043105

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 • Message-switched networks.

• Burst-switched networks.

In Circuit switching, a dedicated communication path is established between the source and

destination through the switching nodes. Hence end to end path from source to destination

is a connected sequence of a physical link between nodes and at each switching node, the

incoming data is switched to the appropriate outgoing link. On each physical link, a logical

channel is dedicated to the connection. Circuit switched communication consist of three

stages: Circuit establishment, data transfer and circuit disconnect. In circuit establishment,

a connection is established from source to destination before data is transferred. Some

segments of the circuit may be a dedicated link while some other links in the circuit may be

shared. In data transfer, data is transmitted from source to destination. This connection is

full duplex. The data may be analogue or digital. In circuit disconnect, there’s termination

of the connection between the source and destination. It can also be said to be removing the

dedicated links.

The most common example of a circuit-switched network can be found in public telephone

network (PTN) supporting services such as POTS (plain old telephone systems) and long-

distance calls.

Other examples of circuit switched services are integrated services digital network (ISDN)

and switched 56, 64, and 384 (Kbps) services. The majority of wireless application

protocols (WAP)–enabled phones also operate on top of circuit-switched Networks.

Circuit-switching systems are ideal for communications that require data to be transmitted

in real-time.

2.0 CIRCUIT-SWITCHED NETWORKS

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In this section, we describe the elements of a circuit switched network and examine their

basic functionalities. Figure 1 shows a circuit-switched network. Three basic elements in

this network are end-stations (or terminals), transmission media, and switching nodes.

Through one or more switching nodes, end-stations can be temporarily interconnected to

each other. A switching node can simply provide a transmission path between other

switches and it may not be connected to any terminals; this is the case with Node C in

Figure 1. In general, switching nodes in circuit-switched networks are the most invisible

elements to the users and yet represent the most important elements in terms of offering

available services. Depending on the transmission technology and the physical transmission

media over which connections take place, a switching node can be based on electrical

(analogue or digital) or optical technology. In the following paragraphs, we first describe

the main building blocks of a generic switching node and then examine various switching

technologies.

Figure 1: A circuit-switched network

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 2.1 The Switching Node Architecture

The switching node performs the following basic operation:

• signalling

• control

• switching

• interfacing

The duty of the signalling element in a switching node is to monitor the activity of the

incoming signals and sends the necessary information to the control element of the switch.

The control element processes incoming signalling information and sets up connections

accordingly. The switching function itself is provided by a switching matrix (or fabric),

which is an array of selectable cross-points used to complete connections between input

lines and output lines, as shown in figure 2.

Figure 2: An array of selectable cross-points

Consequently, at the network level, some stations will not be able to be connected. A non-

blocking switching node, on the other hand, allows all inputs to be connected to all outputs.

As a result, a network with non-blocking switching nodes permits all stations to be

connected (in pairs) at once and grants all possible connection requests as long as the

destination node is free. It is hence, desirable to have a non-blocking configuration,

particularly in data communications. However, a major consideration is the high cost of

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 non-blocking switching nodes. In fact, in many cases, it is more practical to build blocking

switches where the blocking probability is acceptable.

3.0 SWITCHING TECHNOLOGIES

The switching function between the inputs and outputs in the matrix can be based on one or

more of the following switching technologies:

• space-division

• time-division

• frequency-division

• wavelength-division

3.1 Space-Division Switching

In space-division switching each input takes a different physical path in the switch matrix

depending on the output. Hence, when a connection is established through a space switch

matrix, a permanent physical contact is made on the matrix of cross-points. The connection

will be maintained throughout the call duration. This technology can be primarily

developed to accommodate analogue transmission. Broadly speaking, space-division

switching can be classified into three types: manual, electromechanical, and stored-program

control.

Historically, circuit switching was designed for making standard telephone calls on the

public telephone network. Hence, the development of switching technology is traced back

to the first commercial manual telephone switchboard used for public telephone network

(the first manual switching machine started operating on January 2, 1878, in New Haven

Connecticut, two years after the invention of the telephone, and it was only capable of

supporting 21 subscribers [2]. Every subscriber’s line was terminated on the rear of the

switchboard, while the front of the switchboard consisted of many loop jacks. Upon

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requesting a connection, the operator would manually connect the appropriate jacks using a

loop cord with a loop plug on each end.

The second generation of space-division switching systems was electro-mechanical. Two

common types of such systems were step-by-step (also known as the Strowger switch in

honour of its inventor) and crossbar switches. Other types of electro-mechanical switches

were All Relay, Panel, and X-Y systems; however, they were not as widely used.

A basic step-by-step switch has a single input terminal and multiple output terminals. The

connection from the input terminal to the outputs is controlled by an internal rotary contact

or wiper. As the wiper rotates, it establishes a contact between the input and output

terminals. Each time the user dials a rotary-dial digit, the rotary contact is advanced one

position and connects the input terminal to the next output terminal. This process continues

until all digits are dialled [3]. The principle of a step-by-step switch with a single input

terminal and multiple output terminals is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: A step-by-step switch with a single input terminal and multiple output terminals

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 Figure 4: A crossbar switch with four incoming circuits, 4 outgoing circuits, and 16 switch cross- points.

In a crossbar switch (also known as a cross-point switch) as digits are dialled, the control

element of the switch receives the entire address before processing it. The cross- points of

the crossbar switch are mechanical contacts with magnets to set up and hold a connection.

The term crossbar arises from the use of crossing horizontal and vertical bars to initially

select the contacts on the cross- point. Once the circuit is established, the switching

contacts are held by electromagnets energized with direct current passing through the

established circuit. When the circuit is opened, the loss of current causes the cross- points

to be released.

Figure 4 shows a crossbar switch with four incoming circuits, four outgoing circuits, and 16

switch cross- points, which may be active or inactive. Any of the incoming circuits can be

interconnected to any one, and only one, of the outgoing circuits. The figure shows the

simultaneous interconnections between the following circuits: A to 2, C to 1, D to 4, and B

to 3. A typical internal design of the switch cross-point is also depicted in Figure 4.

Step-by-step and crossbar switching systems use electro-mechanical components for both

switching matrix and control elements. In 1965, Bell Systems introduced the first

computer-controlled switching system, known as No. 1 Electronic Switching System

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(ESS), which was used in the public telephone [4]. The electronic switching capability of

No. 1 ESS was primarily referred to as the computer-controlled switching and not the

nature of the switching matrix itself. In fact, the switching matrix was still using electro-

mechanical reed relays (nickel-iron reeds sealed in a glass tube, which make contact

because of the magnetic field induced by the coil around them). These switches were

considered as the first stored-program-control switch types used in the public telephone

network.

3.2 Time-Division Switching

With the advents of digital technology and the development of pulse code modulation

(PCM), both voice and data could be transmitted via digital signals. Digital technology led

to a fundamental change in the design and architecture of switching systems. The need for

time- division switching arises from the fact that digital signals are often carrying multiple

individual circuits, or channels, in appropriate timeslots (TS). In such systems, when two

different multiplexed channels are interconnected together through the switch matrix a

virtual circuit is established. This is done by interchanging timeslots, each of which

maintains partial contents of a channel. This operation is referred to as timeslot

interchanging (TSI) [5].

In a digital switch architecture, an incoming channel must be connected to a channel on an

outgoing stream. A common architecture to achieve this utilizes both time-division switch

capability, to shift channels between timeslots, and space-division switching capability, to

enable a different physical outgoing line system to be selected. This architecture is referred

to as time-space-time (TST).

Figure 5 shows a multistage time-space-time architecture to switch the timeslots of two

digital line systems, each containing 24 time slots. The incoming signals are directly fed

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into the time switch, the output of which feeds the space switch in the middle. The output

of the space switch feeds another time switch to which the outgoing signals are connected.

Figure 5: A time-space-time switch architecture, connecting channel 1 and 2 on incoming stream A to channel 24 on
outgoing streams B and A, respectively.

This figure shows how timeslots (channels) 1 and 2 in incoming port (stream A) are

switched to timeslot (channel) 24 in the outgoing stream B and A, respectively. Note that

the second time switch stage is necessary to ensure that multiple timeslots in one incoming

stream are not superimposed or blocked. Having more stages can further improve the

switch performance. In addition to TST, some of the more common structures used in

commercially available systems are TSSST, STS, SSTSS, TSTST.

The first time-division switching system deployed in the United States was the AT&T-

designed No. 4 ESS, which was placed into service in 1976. The No. 4 ESS was considered

as the first truly digital high capacity switch adopted in the public telephone network. It

implemented digital electronics in its control unit and switching matrix and could serve a

maximum of 53,760 circuits. Later, AT&T introduced No. 5 ESS, an improved version,

handling 100,000 lines.

3.3 Frequency and Wavelength-Division Switching

Prior to the full development of digital technology, telephone networks used frequency-

division multiplexing (FDM) to carry several voice channels on a single physical circuit

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(e.g., a twisted cable). In these systems, multiple voice channels would be modulated onto

carriers separated by some frequency spacing (e.g., 4 kHz). The composite signal,

occupying the frequency range 60 to 108 kHz, was known as a group. In turn, five groups

could themselves be multiplexed by a similar method into a super-group, containing 60

voice channels. Advances in FDM, allowed even higher levels of multiplexing, supporting

the transmission of hundreds of voice channels down a single connection.

Today, with the advances in optical networks, the same basic multiplexing principles used

in FDM systems are being employed to optical signals. This is known as wavelength-

division multiplexing (WDM). In fact, WDM is an analogue multiplexing technique where

the original signals are frequency shifted to occupy different portions of the frequency

spectrum of the transmission media. With the emergence of dense WDM (DWDM) system,

64 to 160 wavelengths (or channels) can be densely packed at 50 or 25 GHz intervals.

Hence, the frequency and wavelength- division switching, in practice, are very similar. In

the remaining of this section, we consider wavelength-division switching architecture [6].

WDM optical networks consist of optical switches, which are interconnected using WDM

transmission systems. The basic functionality of the optical switch is to ensure that the data

carried on any wavelength channel on any incoming optical link can be directed to any

wavelength on any outgoing optical link. Based on the switching fabric technology, optical

switches can be classified into two categories: opaque and transparent optical switches. An

opaque optical switch, also called optical cross-connect (OXC), first, converts incoming

optical signals to electrical signals, then, switches the electrical signals using an electronic

switching fabric, and finally, converts the electrical signals back to optical signals at the

output [7]. A major disadvantage of such systems is that they need to perform multiple

optoelectrical translations that can be both complex and expensive.

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A transparent optical switch, also called photonic cross-connect (PXC), on the other hand,

does not require any optoelectrical translation and switches incoming signals in the optical

domain. The photonic switch fabric can be developed using a variety of technologies,

including optomechanical, electro-optic, acousto-optic, thermal, micro-mechanical, liquid

crystal, and semiconductor switch technologies. In practice, these technologies differ based

on their performance characteristics such as switching speed, power loss as optical signals

are switched, and wavelength independence in which switching is independent of the

specific wavelength being switched. Figure 6 depicts a typical multistage photonic switch

equipped with wavelength converters.

Figure 6: A typical optical switch architecture with wavelength converters, capable of supporting P incoming and
outgoing optical links, each having N wavelength channels

Note that in this architecture, the photonic switch fabric is a matrix of optical gates. Similar

architectures have been proposed and developed to eliminate the need for costly

wavelength converters. With the current technology, the control mechanism in the photonic

switch fabrics is performed electronically.

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4.0 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CIRCUIT SWITCHING

Circuit switching was the dominant switching technology for more than 100 years. With

such a long technological history, circuit switching is well understood, extremely well

developed, and widely deployed in the form of the worldwide public telephone system.

Furthermore, advances in solid-state technology and microprocessors have led to the

constant improvement of capabilities of circuit-switching technology and, consequently, its

cost-effectiveness. In addition, new switching techniques, including wavelength-division

switching (WDS), as well as high-speed signalling between switches, such as common

channel signalling (CCS), have reduced average circuit setup delay and provided numerous

new features.

Despite the emergence of newer switching technologies, namely packet switching, circuit-

switching technology remains an appropriate and easily used technique with many unique

advantages [8] [9].

 One of the major advantages of circuit switching is that it is an essentially transparent

service with no storage requirement. Once the connection is established, constant-rate

data is provided to the connected stations. An important consequence of transparency is

that no buffer overhead is required to accommodate data bursts that can be created by

store and forward packet switching.

 Furthermore, the analogue or digital data is passed through as-is from source to

destination.

Clearly, upon establishing the switched path, the time delay in delivering the data is

only that resulting from speed-of-light delays, which are typically small compared to

buffer delays, allowing real-time interaction between stations. Once the circuit is

established, data is transmitted without any delay as there is no waiting time at each

switch and generally error-free.

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 The dedicated path/circuit established between sender and receiver provides a

guaranteed data rate.

 Since a dedicated continuous transmission path is established, the method is suitable for

long continuous transmission

Circuit-switching technology also has major drawbacks, which make it less desirable for

certain applications.

 A major issue with circuit switching is that all resources must be available and

dedicated through the network between terminals before the communication takes

place. Otherwise, the communication request will be blocked. This can result in

potential channel inefficiency. For example, consider a case in which channel capacity

is dedicated for the entire duration of a connection, however, no data is actually being

transferred. As the connection is dedicated it cannot be used to transmit any other data

even if the channel is free.

 For voice communications, since the idle times are minimum, high utilization can be

expected. However, for data communications, since the capacity may be idle during

most of the time of the connection (e.g., when we are only reading a downloaded web

page), circuit switching can result in relatively low utilization.

 Another major issue with circuit switching is that in order to set up circuits between

end-stations, circuit switching facilities must be capable of processing large signalling

at high-speed. Hence, existing systems may not be efficient for bursty traffic with short

message durations and sporadic transmissions.

 It is inefficient in terms of the utilization of system resources. As resources are

allocated for the entire duration of the connection, these are not available to other

connections.

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  Dedicated channels require more bandwidth.

 Prior to actual data transfer, the time required to establish a physical link between the

two stations is too long. It takes time to establish the connection

 Should anywhere on the route fail then the connection will be broken

 Difficult to scale up the network to deal with millions of devices.

 Every connection would have to be capable of supporting the maximum bandwidth

required. This was no problem for voice calls as a voice call needs a very low

bandwidth (3KHz), but not when bandwidths of 100Mbps + are needed

5.0 COMPARISON BETWEEN CIRCUIT SWITCHING AND PACKAGE

SWITCHING

5.1 Circuit Switching

In circuit switching networks, dedicated channels must be established before the call is

made between users. The channel is reserved between the users till the connection is active.

For half duplex communication, one channel is allocated and for full duplex

communication, two channels are allocated. It is mainly used for voice communication

requiring real-time services without any much delay [10].

Figure 7: Circuit Switched Network

As shown in figure 7, if user-A wants to use the network; it needs to first ask for the request

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to obtain the one and then user-A can communicate with user-C. During the connection

phase if user-B tries to call/communicate with user-D or any other user it will get a busy

signal from the network.

5.2 Packet Switching

In packet switching network unlike a circuit switching network, it is not required to

establish the connection initially. The connection/channel is available to use by many users.

But when capacity or number of users increases then it will lead to congestion in the

network. Packet switched networks are mainly used for data and voice applications

requiring non-real time scenarios.

Figure 8: Packet Switch Network

As shown in figure 8, if user-A wants to send data/information to user-C and if user-B

wants to send data to user-D, it is simultaneously possible. Here information is padded with

a header which contains addresses of source and destination. This header is sniffed by

intermediate switching nodes to determine their route and destination.

In packet switching, station breaks long messages into packets. Packets are sent one at a

time to the network. Packets are handled in two ways, viz. datagram and virtual circuit.

In datagram, each packet is treated independently. Packets can take up any practical route.

Packets may arrive out of order and may go missing.

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In the virtual circuit, a pre-planned route is established before any packets are transmitted.

The handshake is established using call request and call accept messages. Here each packet

contains virtual circuit identifier (VCI) instead of the destination address. In this type,

routing decisions for each packet are not needed.

5.3 Comparison between CS vs. PS networks

As shown above, in Packet switched (PS) networks, quality of service (QoS) is not

guaranteed while in circuit switched (CS) networks quality is guaranteed. PS is used for

time insensitive applications such as internet/email/SMS/MMS/VOIP etc. In CS, even if the

user is not talking, the channel cannot be used by other users, this will waste the resource

capacity at those intervals.

The example of circuit switched network is Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

and example of a packet switched network is GPRS/EDGE.

The table below summarizes the difference between circuit switching and packet switching

of type datagram and virtual circuit.

Table 1: Comparison between Circuit and Packet Switching [10]

PACKET PACKET SWITCHING

CIRCUIT
SWITCHING (VIRTUAL CIRCUIT
SWITCHING
(DATAGRAM TYPE) TYPE)
Dedicated path No Dedicated path No Dedicated path
The path is established
The route is established The route is established for
for the entire
for each packet the entire conversation
conversation
packet transmission call setup delay as well as
Call setup delay
delay packet transmission delay
Overload may block call Overload increases Overload may block call
setup packet delay setup and increases packet

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 delay
Fixed bandwidth Dynamic bandwidth Dynamic bandwidth
No overhead bits after overhead bits in each overhead bits in each
call setup packet packet

6.0 OPTICAL CIRCUIT SWITCHING

In early generations of circuit-switching, circuits were established over copper wires and

traversed several electronic circuits switching nodes. As the demand for network bandwidth

increased, copper wire was (and continues to be) replaced by optical fibre, which provides

significantly more bandwidth. The bandwidth of an optical fibre can be further exploited

using Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology.

An optical circuit-switching network is like the example shown in figure . In an optical

network, however, transmission media are WDM links and switching nodes are optical

(opaque or transparent). Using WDM transmission technology, the optical transmission

spectrum is carved up into several over-lapping wavelength bands. Each wavelength band

can support a single communication channel operating at the peak electronic rate. Today,

most optical networks deployed in long-distance telecommunication networks are point to-

point Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexing Synchronous Optical Network (DWDM

SONET) networks, where each node requires optical-electronic-optical (O-E-O)

conversions and electronic switching.

As we mentioned before, in an optical network that utilizes photonic cross-connects

(PXCs), all circuits over the network are established in the optical domain. End to- end all-

optical circuits offering bandwidth equivalent to the bandwidth provided by a single

wavelength are referred to as lightpaths. Such optical networks are called wavelength-

routed WDM networks [11].

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If wavelengths cannot be converted from one wavelength to another at PXCs, then the same

wavelength must be used on all links of a light path.

A key challenge in the practical implementation of optical networks is to develop efficient

algorithms and protocols for establishing lightpaths [12]. Such algorithms must select

routes and assign wavelengths to all-optical circuits in a manner that efficiently utilizes

network resources.

Furthermore, signalling protocols must set up a lightpath in a timely manner and must

properly distribute control messages and network state information.

In emerging optical networks, signalling and control for connection establishment may be

implemented by one of three methods. First, it may be done within the generalized multi-

protocol label switching (GMPLS) framework. GMPLS defines the control architecture for

establishing circuits, is based on MPLS in IP networks, and is primarily a construct

supported by router vendors.

A second approach uses the Automatically Switched Optical Network International

Telecommunication Union (ASON ITU) standards and has been put forward primarily

within the carrier and telecom community. Finally, some research networks support a

centralized control scheme that allows advanced reservation and scheduling of dedicated

bandwidth.

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 Figure 9: Optical Circuit

7.0 CIRCUIT – SWITCHING NETWORK PERFORMANCES

Circuit-switched is a type of network in which a physical path is obtained for and dedicated

to a single connection between two end-points in the network for the duration of the

connection. Ordinary voice phone service is circuit-switched. The telephone company

reserves a specific physical path to the number you are calling for the duration of your call.

During that time, no one else can use the physical lines involved [13]. The actual physical

electrical path or circuit between the source and destination host must be established before

the message is transmitted. This connection, once established, remains exclusive and

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continuous for the complete duration of information exchange and the circuit becomes

disconnected only when the source wants to do so.

When circuits are established, such as the establishment of a phone call or a lightpath in a

WDM network, the primary performance metrics of interest in circuit-switched networks

are delay and blocking.

We will now consider the metrics in greater detail.

7.1 Delay

Delay, or connection set-up time, refers to the time required to establish the circuit. The

primary components of delay in circuit switching are the

i. propagation delay of the signalling message on each link (Dp), the processing

delay of the signalling message at each node (Dn), and

ii. the transmission delay of data traffic (Dt).

Processing delay is the time spent at each node setting up the route of the connection.

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Figure 10: Event Timing Diagram in Circuit-Switched Networks

The total delay prior to transmission of data, as shown in Figure 1, will be h(2Dp+Dn) +Dn,

where h is the number of hops on the end-to-end path; in the figure above, h=3. This delay

is referred to as circuit setup delay. If data transmission delay (Dt) is smaller or equal to the

setup delay, circuit switching will not be efficient, and it results in low utilization.

However, if D t is much larger than the setup delay, then circuit switching can offer high

utilization.

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 7.2 Blocking

Blocking occurs when there are insufficient resources along a given route to support an

incoming circuit request. Blocking is often measured in terms of the blocking probability,

which is the probability that an incoming call will be rejected due to the lack of resources.

Blocking probability can be analysed by using standard queuing theory techniques. The

simplest model is one in which we evaluate a single link in the network and assume that the

call arrival rate is Poisson and the call-holding time is exponentially distributed.

When analysing the call blocking probability on a single communication link, we assume

that the link is capable of supporting C connections, simultaneously (in the case of WDM

networks, C can be the number of wavelengths supported by each optical link).

Furthermore, we assume that calls arrive (or lightpath requests) according to a Poisson

process with rate λ calls per second, and the call holding time (or lightpath duration) is

exponentially distributed with an average holding time of 1/ μ seconds.

Calls are assumed to be independent of each other. Under these assumptions, the link may

be modelled as

()
n
1 λ
n! μ
p ( n )=
∑ ( k1! ( μλ ) )
C k

k=0

( 1)

An arriving request will be blocked if there are already C calls in progress. Therefore, the

probability that a call is blocked on the link is given by the Erlang B formula viz:

()
C
1 λ
C! μ
p (C)=
∑ ( k1! ( λμ ) )
C k

k =0

( 2)

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 It is also possible to estimate the blocking probability of a given end-to-end connection

request for a call traversing multiple links that is, through a path.

We can define the arrival rate of connection requests from source node s to destination

node d as λsd calls per second, the arrival rate of connections on link (i, j) as λij calls per

second, and the route taken by a connection from s to d as R (s, d).

The offered load on a given link, λ ij, can be calculated by adding the traffic from all source-

destination pairs that route traffic over link (i, j):

λ ij= ∑ λ
sd

s ,d : ( i, j ) ϵR ( s , d )
(3 )

To simplify the analysis, it is assumed that links are independent of one another.

Furthermore, we assume call arrivals are Poisson and call holding times are exponentially

distributed with an average holding time of 1/ μseconds. For a connection request from s to

d to succeed, spare capacity must be available on all links along the route. A connection

will be blocked if at least one link in the connection’s route has no available capacity. The

blocking probability of a request from s to d can then be written as:

p ( s , d )=1− ∏ ( 1− pij ( C ) )
( i , j ) ϵR ( s , d )
( 4)

While bearing in mind that

( )
C
1 λ ij
C! μ
pij ( C )=
∑ ( k1! ( μ ) )
C k
λ ij

k=0

( 5)

8.0 PROSPECTS OF CIRCUIT SWITCHING

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 According to [1], circuit-switching technology has been considered as the practical

approach in deploying future optical Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) networks.

This is mainly a result of the fact that the development of all-optical packet switching

networks still lacks reliable optical buffers and synchronization techniques. Today, with the

current technology, circuit switching is seen as a viable solution to establish transparent

optical paths (lightpaths) providing large amounts of bandwidth. The key challenge,

however, is to ensure circuit switching can be made rapidly adaptive to traffic fluctuation

and connection requests.

Circuit switching in core networks like the internet may be expected not only to support

static logical links for higher-layer packet switched protocols, but also to provide resources

directly to end users and applications. Hence, the performance of the Internet where circuit

switching is implemented at the core, the adaptability of circuit switching to existing

Internet protocols, such as TCP/IP, and many other similar open issues require further

research.

9.0 CONCLUSION

We have described the basic principles of circuit-switching technology, the building blocks

of circuit-switched networks and examined its characteristics. We have also reviewed the

advantages and disadvantages of circuit-switched networks and looked at a few of its

applications. Finally, we reviewed the performance of the Circuit Switched Network and

peeped into its prospects.

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10.0 REFERENCES

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[9] Quora, “What are the advantages and disadvantages of circuit switching and

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switching-and-packet-switching. [Accessed 31 October 2018].

[10] RF Wireless World, “circuit switching(CS) vs packet switching(PS) networks |

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 http://www.rfwireless-world.com/Terminology/circuit-switching-vs-packet-

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[11] B. Mukherjee, “Optical WDM Networks,” 2005.

[12] Zang, 2001.

[13] M. Rouse, “Circuit-Switched,” TechTarget, April 2007. [Online]. Available:

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