A type of communication system that establishes a connection, or circuit, between the two devices before communicating and dos not disconnect until all data is sent.

basic switching process whereby a circuit between two users is opened on demand and maintained for their exclusive use for the duration of the transmission

Refers to a characteristic common to most telephone networks where a single path or line must remain open between sender and receiver to enable transmission.

Telecommunications routing system in which a signal travels along a dedicated path. It is the opposite of 'packet switching,' in which digital information travels along multiple paths.

A method of routing traffic between an originator and a destination through switching centers, from local users or from other switching centers, whereby a continuous electrical circuit is established and maintained between the calling and called stations until it is released by one of those stations. Circuit switching has been used extensively for the public switched telephone network. It is also called connection-oriented and is the opposite of packet switched or connectionless networking. TDM voice channels are an example of circuit switching. (source)

Method of routing messages in which the communication channel is kept open until the message is complete (like the telephone).

A switching technique in which a dedicated path is set up between the transmitting device and the receiving device, remaining in place for the duration of the connection (e.g. a telephone call is a circuit switched connection).

A method of connecting to different sites within a phone company network based on the number called as opposed to packet switching, which is based on address. This is how your phone works: You dial a number associated with another location, and the numbers you press are used to route your call. This works for digital data networking just as it does for your phone. See packet switching.

A switching method where a dedicated path is set up between the transmitter and receiver. The connection is transparent, meaning that the switches do not try to interpret the data.

'Old fashioned' phone technology which 'engages' a route between two phones as a continuous connection for the duration of the call.

Switching system in which a dedicated physical circuit path must exist between sender and receiver for the duration of the "call." Used heavily in the telephone company network. Circuit switching can be contrasted with contention and token passing as a channel-access method, and with message switching and packet switching as a switching technique.

In a circuit-switched network, bandwidth is reserved along the network for the duration of each 'conversation' and no data is stored at any point along the network. Packets of data are just passed from node to node without being stored at any point until they reach their destination. The telephone network is circuit-switched. c.f. packet switching. Close this window

A network communications technology that preceded packet switching. Originally designed for the analog-based phone networks but modified to use a digital circuit switching technology called TDM. Circuit-switching creates a dedicated connection between originator and receiver, and data is sent in one continuous stream. Circuit-switched networks lack flexibility, convergence capabilities, and the advanced services available in packet-switched networks.

A process of connecting two points in a communications network where the path (switching points) through the network remains fixed during the operation of a communications circuit. While a circuit switched connection is in operation, the capacity of the circuit remains constant reglardless of the amount of content (e.g. voice or data signals) that is transferred during the circuit connetion.

A method of communicating in which a dedicated communications path is established between two devices through one or more intermediate switching nodes. Unlike packet switching, information is sent as a continuous stream of bits. Data rate is guaranteed, and delay is essentially limited to propagation time. In circuit switching there is a temporary establishment of a connection between two pieces of equipment that permits the exclusive use until the connection is released. The connection is set up on demand and discontinued when the transmission is complete. An example is a dial-up telephone connection. This type of switching is used in ordinary telephone service, with dedicated path between source and destination set up for duration of call.

A temporary connection created by connecting two or more communication channels. An example of this is the public switched telephone system.

Describes a circuit that is held open as long as the parties are communicating. This is how a standard voice telephone call works. Circuit switching ensures consistent throughput, but is very bandwidth inefficient in managing silences between and within words and sentences.

is what the telephone network is based on, which means that once a call is established, there are circuits (B-channels) dedicated to the call.

A switching technique in which a circuit between source and destination is established on demand for exclusive use by the two parties until the connection is released.

A communication technology in which a dedicated channel (circuit) is established for the duration of a transmission

Circuit switching is the switching that is done by a PSTN switch where a dedicated circuit (path) is allocated for each telephone call. The circuit is occupied until the call ends thereby guarantees the connection. See picture. Also see PSTN. Compare with cell switching and packet switching.

A form of data communication which establishes a single connection or circuit between source and destination to carry the data stream. Like a conventional telephone system.

The transmission technique in which a physical circuit is established between sender and receiver before transmission takes place. When the transmission is complete, the circuit is freed.

A method of establishing a dedicated communications path between two or more locations through one or more switching nodes. Data is sent in a continuous stream; the data rate is constant; the delay is constant and limited to propagation times; and a dedicated end to end path remains in effect until the communication is terminated.

A type of communication that uses a dedicated channel for the duration of the transmission. A good example of this is the standard telephone system, which is linked together via wires. As far as wireless goes, circuit switching is old-school stuff, and is being replaced by packet switching in 3G.

A method of transmission in which a fixed path is established between the nodes communicating. This fixed path permits exclusive use of the circuit between the nodes until the connection is dropped. The public telephone network uses circuit switching.

A method used in telecommunications where a temporary dedicated circuit of constant bandwidth is established between two distand endpoints in a network. It is mainly used for voice traffic; the opposite of packet switching.

A switching system that establishes a dedicated physical communications connection between endpoints through the network for the duration of the communications session; this is most often contrasted with packet switching in data communications transmissions.

The temporary connection of two or more communications channels using a fixed, non-shareable path through the network. Users have full use of the circuit until the connection is terminated.

A method of switching a call ensuring a guaranteed end-to-end connection for the duration of the call, at the expense of considerable redundancy when transmission is not taking place. Contrasts with packet switching in future networks.

A communications paradigm in which a dedicated communication path is established between two hosts, and on which all packets travel. The telephone system is an example of a circuit switched network. See also: connection-oriented, connectionless, packet switching.

The process of setting up and keeping a circuit open between two or more users so that users have exclusive and full use of the circuit until the connection is released.

A method of communicating in which a dedicated communications path established between two devices through one or more intermediate switching nodes. Unlike packet switching, digital data are sent as a continuous stream of bits. Bandwidth is guaranteed, and delay is essentially limited to propagation time. The telephone system uses circuit switching.

(1) A method of communications, where an electrical connection between calling and called stations is established on demand for exclusive use of the circuit until the connection is released. (2) A switching system that completes a dedicated transmission path from sender to receiver at the time of transmission. See also: packet switching, store and forward, message switching.

Older, less efficient but reliable technology used by the regular public switched telephone network (also see PSTN and POTS). A connection called a circuit is established for the duration of the call.

A switched circuit is only maintained while the sender and recipient are communicating, as opposed to a dedicated circuit which is held open regardless of whether data is being sent or not.

It is very inefficient for a circuit to be established between any two users who require to converse or transfer information. Circuit switching is a much more efficient use of resources in which each user is connected to a central node or switch that provides the capability of interconnecting any two users for the period of the call. The telephone system uses circuit switching.

A networking technology that provides a temporary but dedicated connection between two stations regardless of the number of switching devices through which data is routed. Analog circuit switching (FDM) has been replaced by digital circuit switching (TDM). The digital technology still maintains the connection until one speaker hangs up. Cisco Proxy The Cisco H.323 Proxy is a device that acts like a Gateway and relays H.323 data between H.323 zones.

the traditional way of information or electrical flow, where cutting the circuit means the end of the flow. Different from packet switching, where the information is divided up and sent in individual packets, which can find alternative routes to their destination if one route is blocked or cut.

Traditional network design in which the switch keeps a path open between the caller and called party for the duration of the call. Most voice calls are circuit switched to maintain real-time transmission while many data calls are packet switched for greater efficiency at the expense of some transmission delays.

The basis of telephone call handling, with a circuit connection being set up between caller and called party. This connection is held open for the duration of the call, even when no information (voice, data, images or video) is being transmitted. The alternative is packet switching.

Circuit switching is a WAN switching method in which a dedicated Physical circuit through a carrier network is established, maintained, and terminated for each communication session. Used extensively in telephone company networks, operates much like a normal telephone call.

The process of establishing a connection for the purpose of communication in which the full use of the circuit is guaranteed to the parties or devices exchanging information. After the communication has ended, the connection is released for use by others.

The temporary direct connection of two or more channels between two or more points in order to provide the user with exclusive use of an open channel with which to exchange information. A discrete circuit path is set up between the incoming and outgoing lines, in contrast to message switching and packet switching, in which no such physical path is established.

Temporary connection of two or more channels to create a through circuit.

In telecommunications, a circuit switching network is one that establishes a dedicated circuit (or channel) between nodes and terminals before the users may communicate. Each circuit that is dedicated cannot be used by other callers until the circuit is released and a new connection is set up. Even if no actual communication is taking place in a dedicated circuit then, that channel still remains unavailable to other users.