A technology used by the PSTN that allocates a pair of conductors for the exclusive use of one communication path. Circuit switching allows multiple conversations on one talk path only if the end-users multiplex the signals prior to transmission.
A communications network, such as the telephone system, that works with a dedicated channel between the sender and the receiver of a message. The entire channel is devoted to the link for the duration of the communications session.
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 during the connection
A type of network in which a continuous link is established between a source and a receiver. Circuit switching is used for voice and video to ensure that individual parts of a signal are received in the correct order by the destination site.
A data transmission service requiring the establishment of a circuit-switched connection before data can be transferred from source data terminal equipment (DTE) to a sink DTE. A circuit-switched data transmission service uses a connection network.
A communication network that connects parties by establishing a dedicated circuit between them. See also: Packet-switched network.
Networks that temporarily establish a physical circuit “connection†and keep that circuit reserved for the user until a disconnect signal is received. A dial-up modem is an example of a circuit-switched connection. In contrast, a packed-switched network are connectionless or “always on,†eliminating the need to initiate a connection for data transfer. See Also: Packet-Switched Network
A network that establishes a physical circuit temporarily on demand and keeps that circuit reserved to the user until it receives a disconnect signal. A dial-up modem is an example of a circuit-switched connection.
A type of wide area network where transmitting and receiving networks are linked by a single physical circuit, which is created by complex switching mechanisms. See also PSTN.
network in which a virtual circuit is set up for each connection in order to simulate having a physical wire between two points. The telephone system is a circuit-switched network. Circuit-switched networks are generally considered less efficient than packet-switched networks like the Internet because the circuit remains reserved even when no data is being transferred (i.e. when no one is talking).
This network transports information on communication links with a dedicated, end-to-end connection established at one or more switching centers between two connected parties for the length of their call. The public switched telephone network (PSTN) uses circuit switching.
