A new broadcast switching network

A rearrangeable broadcast switching network is proposed. Under the condition that the number of outlets (customers) is much larger that the number of source inlets (video channels), the network normally has fewer switching nodes than other approaches. The approach is based on the decomposition of the multiconnection function into two subfunction: consecutive spreading and routing. I offers modular construction, easy growth, and an easy path hunt. The network is especially suitable for the directional-coupler photonic-switching technology and an implementation based on this technology is presented. The number of crosspoints required for electronic and photonic implementations is compared