Time division multiplex switching network for multiservice digital networks

Claim 1

1 - Asynchronous time division multiplex switching network for multiservice digital network, comprising : a plurality of time division multiplex bidirectional highways conveying digital data arranged in a hybrid frame including a time slot zone and a packet channel zone, said time slot zone being formed of a plurality of time slots containing sample words having a variable number of bits and said packet channel zone being formed of a plurality of channels for packets having a variable number of bits, said highways being given particular addresses ; a plurality of data transmit and receive stations, connected to and associated with said bidirectional highways ; a plurality of buses connecting said transmit and receive stations therebetween and selectively interconnecting an originating bidirectional highway having a given address to a terminating bidirectional highway having a given address through an originating and terminating transmit and receive station ; means in each transmit station for adding to a sample word or a packet to be switched the address of the terminating highway ; characterized in that it further comprises : means in each transmit station for adding to the sample word proper to be switched and the packet proper to be switched and to the address of the terminating highway for said sample word or packet, a group of information items including respectively the number of bits of said sample word, the number of the time slot in the hybrid frame of said terminating highway and a first sort-of-data indicator marking sample words and the number of bits of said packet, the number of the packet channel in the hybrid frame of said terminating highway and a second sort-of-data indicator marking the packets ; means in each receive station for storing the number of bits of the sample words and packets, the number of the time slots and packet channels and the first and second sort-of-data indicators ; and means for inserting in the hybrid frame of the terminating highway the sample words and packets depending on said time slot and packet channel numbers and sort of-data-indicators.