Network, transport, and switching integration for broadband communications

摘要

It is shown how the development of technologies causes shifts in the relative use of space-, time-, and frequency-division multiplexing. Novel and integrated versions of these for integrated optical networks are examined. Synchronous and asynchronous transfer nodes are defined and discussed. The use of fixed-length and variable-length packets is considered. Mechanisms of switching in the space, time, and frequency domains are described.