Digital cross-connect system
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cross-connect device for use in a network for transmitting signals of high-level groups for digital communications, and more particularly to a digital cross-connect system which employs three-stage switches of the basic CLOS type and is capable of branch connections. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Cross-connect devices are positioned in the hubs of a transmission network for transmitting signals of high-level groups for digital communications including time-division multiplex communications. In response to commands from a network management system which controls the connections of the entire network, the cross-connect devices switch connections between a plurality of N input signal lines and a plurality of G output signal lines at the respective hubs for thereby changing transmission routes on the network for digital communications. One conventional cross-connect device is basically composed of three switch groups, i.e., former-stage, intermediate-stage, and latter-stage switch groups, constructed by suitably combining a group of space switches (S switches) which spatially switch time slots between a plurality of multiplexed signal series, and a group of time switches (T switches) which switch the chronological sequence of one multiplexed signal series. 
     With such multistage connections, there may occur a condition referred to as interblocking in which any idle paths between the input signal lines and the output signal lines cannot be located because the intermediate-stage switches are blocked. One proposal to eliminate such a drawback is a multistage switch, called a CLOS-type multistage switch proposed by Charles Clos, in which the number m of intermediate-stage switches is equal to or greater than the sum of the number n of front-stage input signal lines and the number g of rear-stage output signal lines, minus 1 (m≧n+g-1) (&#34;A study of Non-Blocking Switching Networks&#34;, Bell System Technical Journal, Vol. 32, No. 2, 1953, pp. 406-424). 
     A CLOS-type three-stage switch for making any desired connections between a plurality of N input signal lines and a plurality of G output signal lines, which is said to have a switch size N×G, comprises a primary switch group of N/n switches to which divisions, each composed of n input lines, of N input lines are connected, a tertiary switch group of G/g switches to which divisions, each composed of g output lines, of G output lines are connected, and a secondary switch group of m switches interconnecting the primary and tertiary switch groups, where n and g are integers equal to or smaller than N and G, respectively, and if the values N/n and G/g are not integers, then they represent immediately higher integers. Each of the switches of the primary group has a switch size n×m, each of the switches of the secondary group has a switch size (N/n)×(G/g), and each of the switches of the tertiary group has a switch size m×g. 
     A j-th output terminal of the i-th primary switch is connected to an i-th input terminal of the j-th secondary switch, and a q-th input terminal of the p-th tertiary switch is connected to a p-th output terminal of the q-th secondary switch. 
     A five-stage switch may be handled as a three-stage switch composed of a primary switch group, a switch block group, and a quintic switch group, the switch block group comprising a CLOS-type three-stage switch group which replaces secondary, tertiary, and quartic switch groups in the intermediate stage. Similarly, switches of more odd-numbered stages may be obtained by replacing intermediate-stage switch groups with a CLOS-type three-stage switch group. 
     A five-stage switch having a switch size N×G comprises a primary switch group of N/n switches having a switch size n×m, a quintic switch group of G/g switches having a switch size m×g, and a switch block group of m switch blocks having a switch size (N/n)×(G/g). A j-th output terminal of the i-th primary switch is connected to an i-th input terminal of the j-th secondary switch, and a q-th input terminal of the p-th quintic switch is connected to a p-th output terminal of the q-th switch block. 
     The intermediate-stage switch block group has an overall switch size N&#39;×G&#39; where N&#39;×G&#39; is rewritten from (N/n)×(G/g) and N&#39;=N/n, G&#39;=G/g. Each switch block comprises a secondary switch group of N&#39;/n&#39; switches having a switch size n&#39;×m&#39;, a tertiary switch group of m&#39; switches having a switch size (N&#39;/n&#39;)×(G&#39;/g&#39;), and a quartic switch group of G&#39;/g&#39; switches having a switch size m&#39;×g&#39;. A j&#39;-th output terminal of the i&#39;-th secondary switch is connected to an i&#39;-th input terminal of the j&#39;-th tertiary switch, and a q&#39;-th input terminal of the p&#39;-th quartic switch is connected to a p&#39;-th output terminal of the q&#39;-th tertiary switch. 
     The input and output signal lines may be connected in either a one-to-one connection configuration in which one input line and one output line are interconnected or a one-to-many branch connection configuration in which one input line is branched and connected to a plurality of output lines. The conventional CLOS-type cross-connect devices operate only in the one-to-one connection configuration, and there have not been available any conventional cross-connect devices operating in the one-to-many branch connection configuration. 
     The cross-connect devices which operate only in the one-to-one connection configuration may be used principally for circuit switching to select and connect any desired circuit. In addition, they may also be used to switch between transmission routes to keep a substitute transmission path for efficient operation of the network in the event of a failure of a transmission path. 
     Those of the cross-connect devices operating in the one-to-many branch connection configuration which are capable of one-to-two branch connections may be used as transmission route switching means for branching one signal into two signals at the transmission side of a transmission line, delivering the signals along respective different paths, and selecting one of the signals that has been received under better conditions at the reception side of the transmission line. This process is called patching and rolling, and can shorten the time required for transmission path switching because signals are transmitted simultaneously along two paths. 
     The cross-connect devices which operate in the one-to-many branch connection configuration may be used in situations where one signal is to be transmitted simultaneously to a number of locations. 
     The conventional cross-connect devices that employ a multistage switch having a switch size N×G are, however, disadvantageous in that accidental blocking cannot be prevented from happening in cases where one input signal is branched into a plurality of k output signals and thereafter branch connections or one-to-one connections are made in one device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a digital cross-connect system which is capable of preventing accidental blocking from occurring in cases where one input signal is branched into a plurality of output signals and thereafter one-to-one connections or one-to-many branch connections are made in one device. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a digital cross-connect system for insertion in a transmission path for transmitting digital signals of high-level groups, comprising a plurality of cross-connect devices each composed of multistage switch means having a plurality of input terminals for being supplied with a plurality of digital signals from the transmission path and a plurality of output terminals for outputting digital signals to the transmission path, for switching connections between the input and output terminals over at least front, intermediate and rear stages, and switch control means responsive to connection request signals for controlling switched connections effected by the multistage switch means between the input and output terminals, and a network management system for applying a one-to-one connection request signal to make a one-to-one connection between the input and output terminals and a one-to-many branch connection request signal to branch and output a digital signal supplied to one of the input terminals to a plurality of output terminals, to each of the cross-connect devices for controlling route switching on the transmission path, the network management system comprising means for designating input and output terminals and delivering one-to-one connection and one-to-many branch connection request signals, means for designating switch means in the rear stage of the multistage switch means with respect to the one-to-many connection request signal, the switch control means comprising means for instructing switch means in the front stage of the multistage switch means to make a one-to-one connection only and inhibiting the switch means from making a one-to-many branch connection in response to the one-to-many connection request signal, and means for instructing the designated switch means in the latter stage of the multistage switch means to inhibit signals from being supplied from input terminals other than one designated input terminal. 
     The switch control means may further comprise means for returning error information from the switch control means to the network management system if the switch means designated by the one-to-many connection request signal is blocked and fails to make any connections. 
     With the arrangement of the digital cross-connect system according to the present invention, since branch connections of a switch group in the front stage of the multistage switch means, i.e., branch connections of a primary switch group of a three-stage switch or branch connections of primary and secondary switch groups of a five-stage switch, are inhibited from occurring, blocking is prevented from occurring in cases where one input signal is branched into a plurality of output signals and one-to-one connections are to be made. 
     The output terminals of a final-stage switch group of the multistage switch means which effects one-to-many branch connections with respect to one input signal are inhibited from being supplied with other input signals. For example, if the multistage switch means comprises a three-stage switch, then the output terminals of one tertiary switch which makes branch connections with respect to one input signal are inhibited from being supplied with other input signals. Therefore, blocking is prevented from occurring in cases where one-to-one connections or one-to-many branch connections are to be made to a cross-connect device which is making branch connections. 
     If the multistage switch means comprises a five-stage switch with a broadcast group established therein, then quintic switches belonging to a broadcast subgroup to which signals branched from one input signal are outputted are prevented from being supplied with other input signals. Accordingly, blocking is prevented from occurring in the same manner as with the three-stage switch arrangement. 
     If a branch connection request from the network management system cannot be executed due to blocking, then error information is returned to the network management system. When this takes place, therefore, the branch connection request may be altered. 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention by way of example. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital cross-connect system having three cross-connect devices according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a multistage switch comprising a CLOS-type three-stage switch having a switch size N×G in the cross-connect system shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a CLOS-type three-stage switch having a switch size 12×12 and three secondary switches according to a specific embodiment of the cross-connect system shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an intermediate-stage switch group comprising a CLOS-type five-stage switch composed of m switch blocks having a switch size N&#39;×G&#39; according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a CLOS-type five-stage switch having three switch blocks. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a digital cross-connect system according to the present invention comprises three cross-connect devices 200 interconnected by a transmission path 30 for transmitting signals of high-level groups, and a network management system 100 for issuing a connection request signal which indicates input and output terminals and requests one-to-one and one-to-many branch connections, and a connection request signal which indicates rear-stage switch means and requests one-to-many branch connections. Each of the cross-connect devices 200 comprises a multistage switch 220 for interconnecting desired input and output terminals and a switch control device 210 responsive to a one-to-many branch connection request signal for instructing front-stage switch means to effect one-to-one connections only and inhibit one-to-many branch connections and instructing indicated front-stage switch means to inhibit connections from input terminals other than an indicated one input terminal, with the result that the switch control device 210 can control connections in the multistage switch 220 under connection requests from the network management system 100. 
     In FIGS. 1 and 2, the network management system 100 has means for outputting a branch connection request to branch and send an input signal to output terminals of one tertiary switch 223 of a three-stage switch 220 3 , and means for inhibiting other input signals from being sent to output terminals of the tertiary switch 223. 
     Each of the switch control devices 210 comprises means for inhibiting a primary switch of the three-stage switch 220 3  from branching and sending input signals, means for controlling the three-stage switch 220 3  to branch and send input signals based on a branch connection request outputted from the network management system 100, and means for returning error information in the event that the branch connection request is blocked and cannot be executed. 
     Operation of the digital cross-connect system will be described below with reference to FIG. 3, which shows a specific embodiment. 
     To interconnect one certain input terminal and one certain output terminal, three paths that are available in the illustrated arrangement are designated successively in the ascending order of the numbers of secondary switches. 
     According to a conventional system, to interconnect an input terminal which is supplied with an input signal 300i 1  and an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 1 , a first secondary switch 222 1  is selected, a primary switch 221 1  sends an input signal 300i 1  inputted from its input terminal 1 through an output terminal 1 thereof to an input terminal 1 of the secondary switch 222 1 , which sends the supplied signal through its output terminal 1 to an input terminal 1 of a tertiary switch 223 1 . The tertiary switch 223 1  then outputs the signal as an output signal 300o 1  from its output terminal. 
     To interconnect an input terminal which is supplied with an input signal 300i 2  and an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 2 , since the secondary switch 222 1  is being occupied, a second secondary switch 222 2  is selected and sends the signal in a similar manner. Similarly, the secondary switch 222 1  is selected to interconnect an input terminal which is supplied with an input signal 300i 3  and an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 3 , and the secondary switch 222 2  is selected to interconnect an input terminal which is supplied with an input signal 300i 4  and an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 5 . 
     If the connection between the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 3  and the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 3  through the secondary switch 222 1  is broken, and the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 3  and an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 6  are to be interconnected, a secondary switch 222 3  is selected. 
     When the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 1  is to be connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 2  as well as to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 1 , such a branch connection is blocked because the secondary switch 222 1  and the tertiary switch 223 1  are in use. 
     According to the digital cross-connect system of the present invention, output terminals to which branch connections are to be made are designated in advance. For example, the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 1  is branched and connected to the output terminals which output the output signals 300o 1 , 300o 2 , and the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 2 , being dedicated for a one-to-one connection, is not used. Therefore, a circuit or a device which is connected to the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 2  is connected to an input terminal which is supplied with an input signal 300i 8 , and a device connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 2  is connected to an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 8 . 
     The input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 1  is connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 1  through the secondary switch 222 1 . The input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 8  is connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 8  through the secondary switch 222 1 . The input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 3  is connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 3  through the secondary switch 222 1 . The input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 4  is connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 5  through the secondary switch 222 2 . 
     If the connection between the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 3  and the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 3  through the secondary switch 222 1  is broken, and the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 3  and the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 6  are to be interconnected, then they are connected through the secondary switch 222 3 . 
     With such connections made, branch connections to be made next from the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 1  to the output terminals which output the output signals 300o 1 , 300o 2  will not be blocked. 
     Another embodiment in which a CLOS-type five-stage switch having a switch size 12×12 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     In the five-stage switch, branch connections between primary and secondary switches are inhibited from being made. g&#39;×g output terminals of a quintic switch connected to one quartic switch belong to a broadcast group, g output terminals of one quintic switch belong to a broadcast subgroup, and all c (c is one of 2 through G) output terminals Bx (x is one of 1 through c) branched from A (A is one of 1 through N) input signals belong to one broadcast group. Output terminals which do not belong to the output terminals Bx are inhibited from being connected to the broadcast group to which the output terminals Bx belong. 
     In the arrangement shown in FIG. 5, output terminals which output output signals 300o 1  ˜300o 12  are in six broadcast groups, with each range of the output terminals which output output signals 300o 1  ˜300o 4 , output signals 300o 5  ˜300o 8 , and output signals 300o 9  ˜300o 12  being in two broadcast subgroups. 
     In the five-stage switch, nine paths are available for interconnecting one input terminal and one output terminal, and switch blocks and tertiary switches that are used to interconnect the terminals are selected which have the smallest possible numbers. 
     For example, an input terminal which is supplied with an input signal 300i 1  is connected to an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 1  through a switch block 250 1  and a tertiary switch 223 1 . An input terminal which is supplied with an input signal 300i 2  is connected to an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 7  through a switch block 250 2  and the tertiary switch 223 1 . An input terminal which is supplied with an input signal 300i 3  is connected to an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 3  through the switch block 250 1  and a tertiary switch 223 2 . An input terminal which is supplied with an input signal 300i 4  is connected to an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 5  through the switch block 250 2  and the tertiary switch 223 2 . 
     The connection between the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 2  and the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 7  through the switch block 250 2  and the tertiary switch 223 1  is broken, and the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 2  is connected to an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 6  through a switch block 250 3  and the tertiary switch 223 1 . 
     In such a connection configuration, branch connections to be made next between the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 1  and an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 4  are blocked. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, output terminals to which branch connections are to be made are designated in advance. For example, if the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 1  is branched and connected to the output terminals which output the output signals 300o 1  ˜300o 4 , then the input signal 300i 1  is sent to the output terminals which output the output signals 300o 1 , 300i 4 . The output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 3  is not dedicated for a one-to-one connection because it belongs to a broadcast group. Therefore, a device to be connected to the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 1  is connected to an input terminal which is supplied with an input signal 300i 8 , and a device to be connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 3  is connected to an output terminal which outputs an output signal 300o 8 . 
     In FIG. 5, therefore, the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 1  is connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 1  through the switch block 250 1  and the tertiary switch 223 1 . The input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 2  is connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 7  through the switch block 250 2  and the tertiary switch 223 1 . The input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 8  is connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 8  through the switch block 250 2  and the tertiary switch 223 2 . The input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 4  is connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 5  through the switch block 250 1  and the tertiary switch 223 2 . 
     With such connections, when the connection between the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 2  and the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 7  through the switch block 250 2  and the tertiary switch 223 1  is broken, and the input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 2  is connected to the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 6  through the switch block 250 3  and the tertiary switch 223 1 , the branch connections between input terminal which is supplied with the input signal 300i 1  and the output terminal which outputs the output signal 300o 4  are not broken. 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications of certain preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be evident to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all such modifications and variations be included within the scope of the appended claims.