United States Patent [ 1 9 1 [ 1 1 ] Patent N u m b er : 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0
M ar k er , J r . [ 4 5 ] D ate o f Patent: J an. 3 1 , 1 9 8 9 [ 5 4 ] M ETHOD AN D APPARATUS FOR 4 ,2 7 5 ,2 6 5 6 / 1 9 8 1 D avida et a1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 8 / 2 2 M ULTI-CHAN N EL COM M UN ICATION $4 3 3 ,3 3 3 2 ; 3 : 2 1 gr ail?! - - ~ - - - ' 4 - - - - - - ~ CURITY , , es . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SE 4 ,3 2 2 ,5 7 7 3 / 1 9 8 2 Br andstr o m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 8 / 2 2 [ 7 5 ] Invento r : Walter S. M ar k er , J r . , War r enville, 4 ,3 4 1 ,9 2 5 7 / 1 9 8 2 D o land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 8 / 2 2 1 1 1 , 4 ,3 4 9 ,6 9 5 9 / 1 9 8 2 M o r gan et al. 1 7 8 / 2 2 . _ 4 ,3 5 7 ,5 2 9 1 1 / 1 9 8 2 Atalla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 5 / 3 8 0 [ 7 3 ] Asslgnw Am m an Telep h o ne and Telegr ap h 4 ,3 9 3 ,2 6 9 7 / 1 9 3 3 Ko nh eim et al. . 1 7 8 / 2 2 Co m p any, AT&T Bell Lab o r ato r ies, 4 ,3 9 9 ,3 2 3 8 / 1 9 8 3 Henr y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 8 / 2 2 M u r r ay Hill, N J . 4 ,4 1 1 ,0 1 7 1 0 / 1 9 8 3 Talb o t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 8 0 / 3 1 4 ,4 1 8 ,4 2 5 1 1 / 1 9 8 3 Fennel, J r . et a1 . 4 5 5 / 2 7 [ 2 1 ] Ap p l. N o . : 7 1 4 ,1 9 2 4 ,4 2 3 ,2 8 7 1 2 / 1 9 8 3 Z eidler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 8 / 2 2 ' . 4 ,4 3 3 ,2 1 1 2 / 1 9 8 4 M cCalm o nt et a1 . 1 7 9 / 1 . 5 X [ 2 2 ] Flled M ar 2 0 1 9 8 5 4 ,5 2 5 ,8 4 4 6 / 1 9 8 5 Sch eu er m ann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7 5 / 2 1 [ 5 1 ] Int. Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H0 4 K 1 / 1 0 ; H0 4 L 9 / 0 0 4 ,5 3 4 ,0 3 7 8 / 1 9 8 5 Heitm ann . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 8 / 2 2 . 0 4 [ 5 2 ] US. Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 8 0 / 3 3 ; 3 8 0 / 4 9 4 ,5 4 9 ,3 0 8 1 0 / 1 9 8 5 Lo Pinto 3 8 0 / 2 1 [ 5 3 ] Field o f Sear ch _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ " 4 5 5 / 2 7 ; 3 7 5 / 1 1 , 2 2 ; 4 ,5 7 8 ,5 3 0 3 / 1 9 8 6 Z eidler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 8 0 / 2 4 3 7 0 / 6 9 1 , 6 0 , 9 4 ; 1 7 9 / 1 . 5 R, 1 . 5 S; 3 8 0 / 2 1 , 3 1 , Pn' m aw Ex am iner _ salvato r e cangialo si 4 4 ' 2 8 3 3 4 3 4 8 ' 2 3 ' 2 5 3 4 ' 4 9 Assistant Ex am iner -Ber nar r Ear l G r ego r y [ 5 6 ] Ref er ences Cited Atto r ney, Agent, o r Fir m -Ro ss T. Watland U. S. PATEN T D OCUM EN TS [ 5 7 ] ABSTRACT 1 ,3 9 5 ,3 7 8 1 1 / 1 9 2 1 A m u lti-ch annel co m m u nicatio n secu r ity system wh er e 1 ,5 4 2 ,5 6 7 6 / 1 9 2 5 th e inf o r m atio n in an o r iginal inf o r m atio n m essage is 1 ,5 5 3 ,5 3 5 1 0 / 1 9 2 5 sp lit am o ng a nu m b er o f ch annels in acco r dance with a i5 6 g5 g 1 3 / 1 9 2 2 m essage sp litting r o u tine su ch th at th e inter cep tio n and { 2 2 5 2 5 9 8 x 3 3 2 analysis o f any single ch annel do es no t co m p r o m ise th e 1 8 7 5 1 6 5 8 / 1 9 3 2 p r ivacy o f th e co m m u nicatio n. Th e system p r o vides 2 : 0 9 4 : 1 3 2 9 / 1 9 3 7 secu r e co m m u nicatio n ter m inal adap ter s in co j u nctio n 3 ,4 1 1 ,0 8 9 1 1 / 1 9 6 8 with u ser ter m inals f o r sp litting and r eco m b ining o f 3 ,9 2 1 ,1 5 1 1 1 / 1 9 7 5 p r ivate co m m u nicatio ns to geth er with co ntr o l f acilities 3 ,9 5 3 ,6 7 7 4 / 1 9 7 6 in an integr ated ser vices digital netwo r k (ISD N ) f o r 4 9 0 4 9 8 9 V 1 9 7 7 selecting am o u ng a m u ltip licity o f p o ssib le o f m essage sp litting r o u tines and gener ating secu r ity co de signals 4 : 1 7 2 : 9 6 ; V 1 9 7 9 _ f o r tr ansm issio n in sep ar ate D -ch annels to th e u ser 4 ,1 3 2 ,9 3 3 1 / 1 9 8 0 Ro senb lu m . . . . . . . . . . . . eqm p m ent 4 ,2 0 0 ,7 7 0 4 / 1 9 8 0 Hellm an et a1 . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 8 / 2 2 4 ,2 2 3 ,1 8 2 9 / 1 9 8 0 Fr aser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l7 8 / 2 2 . 0 4 3 4 Claim s, 1 4 D r awing Sh eets I0 0 7 9 . 0 !!1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 w Q ] ! Q IIUTIICATI I 1 5 1 1 m m m o m , 1 5 1 m l m m N ETIQ RK A m a _ 0 _ _ 0 _ l_ l 0 0 0 0 0 | l| _ 0 _ _ | _ 0 0 2 I2 0 I) ' 4 a1 \ L 5 1 0 0 6 I] ; a2 1 2 F ,1 0 0 9 T- ,/ cm 0 D . . _ I0 0 5 also I I0 0 4 - USER STATION I0 0 6 USER STATION I0 0 6 ~ U. S. Pat nt J an. 3 1 , 1 9 8 9 Sh e t 1 0 f 1 4 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 "! { I2 0 USER STATION _ l0 0 6 US. Patent J an. 3 1 , 1 9 8 9 Sh eet 4 o f 1 4 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0 US. Patent J an. 3 1 , 1 9 8 9 Sh eet 5 0 f 1 4 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0 2 \ 2 2 g; 5 E3 3 3 : 5 2 . is; $5 5 8 _ -5 5 : ESE a; 5 2 2 % 2 2 8 5 w : 5 3 5 5 5 : : _ 8 . 6 u s; " . _ N 3 5 2 o z 2 : 5 2 3 . 3 2 3 : 2 5 5 : 3 \ 8 3 5 : 8 1 5 : 5 2 3 US. Patent J an. 3 1 , 1 9 8 9 Sh eet 6 o f 1 4 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5 5 2 2 : 2 5 : : 8 . 5 m i: 6 ; N 2 m 2 H 3 : 3 . 1 . ! : 5 5 : SEES 6 5 : 8 . . 2 2 5 2 5 2 : . 2 5 5 Kw . SE2 8 : 2 : 5 # 5 5 5 3 c: 2 5 8 : 3 I US. Patent J an. 3 1 , 1 9 8 9 Sh eet 7 0 f 1 4 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0 8 : 3 . 2 5 5 0 \ 9 k I - | E5 SE8 _ 5 1 an E E? N 2 E 2 % 8 1 an E5 2 2 3 , E 3 1 as. 2 . E : 8 E 8 x . 2 2 5 % 5 2 2 . 5 5 : : -6 8 2 US. Patent vJ an. 3 l, 1 9 8 9 Sh eet 8 0 f 1 4 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0 % 6 ? 2 2 : 2 5 . 1 8 5 am 5 : 8 5 : 8 5 : 8 2 5 : 2 : 2 2 3 % : 5 2 2 : 5 : : 5 ; as 5 2 % . 5 5 5 2 : m 5 ? 5 g5 5 a 1 % : a? was a? 1 m g: 5 g : 5 5 3 : 5 0 5 2 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0 1 M ETHOD AN D APPARATUS FOR M ULTI-CHAN N EL COM M UN ICATION SECURITY TECHN ICAL FIELD Th is inventio n r elates to m eth o ds and system s f o r p r o viding secu r e co m m u nicatio ns and p ar ticu lar ly to m essage sp litting and m u lti-ch annel tr ansm issio n o f sep ar ate m essage p o r tio ns. Th e inventio n sp eci?cally p er tains to secu r ity equ ip m ent f o r ter m inal end u ser statio ns and to co ntr o l equ ip m ent f o r de?ning m essage sp litting r o u tines in an integr ated ser vices digital net wo r k (ISD N ) wh ich advantageo u sly p r o vides m u lti ch annel digital co nnectivity b etween netwo r k ter m inal end u ser s. Th e secu r ity and co ntr o l equ ip m ent p r o vide f o r encr yp tio n and r eco m b inatio n o f inf o r m atio n m es sages co m m u nicated in sp lit p o r tio ns o ver distinct co m m u nicatio n ch annels. BACKG ROUN D OF THE IN V EN TION Pr ivacy system s ar e in u se b o th in telep h o ne and o th er typ es o f co m m u nicatio n system s. Su ch p r ivacy system s r ender signals u nintelligib le to avo id inter cep tio n b y u nau th o r iz ed listener s and, in m any cases, ar e r estr icted to selected co m m u nicatio n ch annels o ver wh ich secr et m essages ar e sent. Ho wever , secu r ity ar r angem ents ar e also f r equ ently ap p r o p r iate wh en m es sages ar e tr ansm itted o ver co m m o n co m m u nicatio n p ath s easily accessib le to th ir d p ar ties, e. g. , th e m icr o wave link s in a lo ng-distance telep h o ne netwo r k o r th e tim e-m u ltip lex ed lines o f a tim e divisio n system . One k no wn p r ivacy co m m u nicatio n ar r angem ent, disclo sed in U. S. Pat. N o . 4 ,1 0 0 ,3 7 4 o f N . S. J ayant et p r o du ce an u nco r r elated scr am b led signal. Th e p r o cess invo lves sam p ling th e inf o r m atio n signal at a p r edeter m ined r ate and dividing th e sam p les into gr o u p s o f N su ccessive sam p les. To encr yp t th e signal, each su cces sive sam p le gr o u p is p er m u ted b y tr ansp o sing th e sam p les with in th e gr o u p . Th e J ayant et al. system is, h o w ever , vu lner ab le to a co de-b r eak ing p r o cess wh er eb y th e scr am b led signal is r eco r ded and th en analyz ed b y a co m p u ter to deter m ine th e scr am b ling tech niqu e in vo lved. Th e o r iginal inf o r m atio n signal is th en r ecr e ated b y p er f o r m ing th e inver se o f th e deter m ined tech niqu e o n th e r eco r ded signal, th u s ef f ectively co de b r eak ing th e system . A r eco gniz ed p r o b lem in th e ar t is th e vu lner ab ility o f k no wn p r ivacy system s inclu ding th e J ayant et al. sys tem , to co de-b r eak ing , p ar ticu lar ly wh er e all th e inf o r m atio n in th e o r iginal signal is p r esent in th e en cr yp ted signal and wh er e th e encr yp ted signal as in th e J ayant et al. system , can b e r eco r ded b y u nau th o r iz ed listener s and su b j ected to an ex h au stive analysis b y co m p u ter to def eat th e encr yp tio n. SUM M ARY OF THE IN V EN TION Th e af o r em entio ned p r o b lem is so lved and a tech ni cal advance is ach ieved in acco r dance with th e p r inci p les o f th e inventio n in a m u lti-ch annel secu r e co m m u nicatio n system wh er e th e inf o r m atio n in th e o r iginal m essage is sp lit advantageo u sly am o ng a nu m b er o f ch annels in acco r dance with a selected m essage sp lit ting r o u tine su ch th at th e inter cep tio n and analysis o f any single ch annel will no t co m p r o m ise th e p r ivacy o f th e co m m u nicatio n. Th e inventio n h as p ar ticu lar ap p li cab ility in co nj u nctio n with integr ated ser vices digital netwo r k s (ISD N s) wh ich will typ ically p r o vide each 1 0 2 0 3 5 4 0 4 5 5 0 5 5 6 0 6 5 2 u ser with end-to -end digital co nnectivity via a m u lti ch annel netwo r k . In an illu str ative ar r angem ent in acco r dance with th e inventio n, secu r e co m m u nicatio n ter m inal adap ter s ar e p r o vided in co nj u nctio n with u ser ter m inal equ ip m ent to ef f ect th e m essage sp litting and r eco m b ining f u nc tio ns. Th e adap ter s inclu de tr ansm it and r eceive u nits f o r b idir ectio nal co m m u nicatio n, as well a p r o cesso r th at co ntr o ls th e secu r ity f u nctio ns o f th e tr ansm it and r eceive u nits in acco r dance with r o u tines sto r ed in an asso ciated m em o r y. A tr ansm it u nit r esp o nds to a ?r st secu r ity co de signal de?ning a m essage sp litting r o u tine, b y sp litting an inf o r m atio n m essage into ?r st p o r tio ns and seco nd p o r tio ns. Th e tr ansm it u nit tr ansm its su ch ?r st p o r tio ns and seco nd p o r tio ns, r esp ectively, o n ?r st and seco nd co m m u nicatio n ch annels to a r eceive u nit in an adap ter at th e ter m inating u ser ter m inal equ ip m ent. Th e ter m inating r eceive u nit r esp o nds to a seco nd secu r ity co de signal and to a r eceip t o f th e ?r st and seco nd p o r tio ns f r o m th e co m m u nicatio n ch annels, b y r ef o r m ing th e inf o r m atio n m essage in acco r dance with a co m b ining r o u tine. Th e two co m m u nicatio n ch annels ar e, b y way o f ex am p le, cir cu it-switch ed ch annels co m p leted th r o u gh an integr ated ser vices digital netwo r k (ISD N ) th at p r o vides m u lti-ch annel digital co nnectivity b etween u ser statio ns. Th at netwo r k illu str atively inclu des o r iginat ing and ter m inating centr al o f ?ces dir ectly inter co n nected via b idir ectio nal digital tr ansm issio n f acilities. Advantageo u sly, th e ?r st and seco nd ch annels ar e ex tendib le th r o u gh th e netwo r k o n p h ysically sep ar ate p ath s, e. g. , o n sep ar ate digital f acilities alo ng dif f er ent r o u tes. Th e ter m inating centr al o f ?ce selects o ne o f a nu m b er o f p o ssib le sp litting r o u tines f o r sp litting indi vidu al m essages am o ng m u ltip le ch annels. Secu r ity co de signals de?ning th e selected sp litting r o u tine ar e th en tr ansm itted advantageo u sly f r o m th e netwo r k via a sep ar ate D -ch annel to b o th th e o r iginating and ter m i nating u ser statio ns. Th e tr ansm it u nit in th e o r iginating u ser statio n r esp o nds to a secu r ity co de signal b y sp lit ting a given m essage into ?r st p o r tio ns and seco nd p o r tio ns in acco r dance with th e de?ned sp litting r o u tine. Th e ?r st p o r tio ns and seco nd p o r tio ns ar e co m m u ni cated o ver th e ?r st and seco nd ch annels, r esp ectively, to th e r eceive u nit in th e ter m inating u ser statio n. Su ch r eceive u nit r esp o nds to a secu r ity co de signal b y co m b ining r eceived ?r st p o r tio ns and r eceived seco nd p o r tio ns in acco r dance with a co m b ining r o u tine asso ciated with th e de?ned sp litting r o u tine, th u s r ef o r m ing th e given m essage. Th e secu r ity af f o r ded b y th is inventio n is gr eatly enh anced b ecau se o f th e m u ltip licity o f ways o f sp litting even r elatively sh o r t m essages. By way o f ex am p le, th e m essage p o r tio ns each ar e individu al b its o f th e m es sage. Th e m essage sp litting is advantageo u sly ef f ected in acco r dance with a sp litting r o u tine th at is selected f o r each secu r e co m m u nicatio n f r o m a lar ge nu m b er o f p o ssib le sp litting r o u tines. One su ch sp litting r o u tine illu str atively ef f ects a tr ansm issio n o f ?r st, th ir d, ?f th and seventh b its o f an eigh t-b it m essage o ver th e ?r st ch annel, and th e seco nd, f o u r th , six th and eigh th m es sage b its o ver th e seco nd ch annel. Ano th er su ch sp lit ting r o u tine, b y way o f ex am p le, co ntr o ls a tr ansm issio n o f th e ?r st, f o u r th , ?f th and seventh b its o f an eigh t-b it m essage o ver th e ?r st ch annel, and th e seco nd, th ir d, six th and eigh th h its o ver th e seco nd ch annel. A lar ge nu m b er o f dif f er ent sp litting r o u tines ar e p o ssib le even 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0 3 f o r th e r elatively sim p le case o f an eigh t-b it m essage b eing sp lit b etween two ch annels. As an additio nal secu r ity m easu r e, th e tr ansm issio ns o ver th e ?r st and seco nd ch annels ar e sep ar ately encr yp ted u sing a r an do m nu m b er additio n m eth o d and ap p ar atu s em b o died in th e ter m inal adap ter . Th e inventio n p r o vides f o r alter natives to th e cir cu it switch ed ch annel ar r angem ents b y m essage sp litting am o ng a nu m b er o f lo gical ch annels in a single p ack et switch ed D -ch annel, o r signi?cantly am o ng su ccessive p ack ets in a single lo gical ch annel. BRIEF D ESCRIPTION OF THE D RAWIN G A m o r e co m p lete u nder standing o f th e p r esent inven tio n m ay b e o b tained f r o m a co nsider atio n o f th e f o l lo wing descr ip tio n wh en r ead in co nj u nctio n with th e dr awing in wh ich : FIG . 1 is a gener aliz ed diagr am o f an ex em p lar y secu r ity ar r angem ent u sed to illu str ate th e advanta geo u s sp litting o f m essages am o ng ch annels in an ISD N system ; FIG S. 2 and 3 , wh en ar r anged in acco r dance with FIG . 1 5 , p r esent a m o r e sp eci?c diagr am o f an ex em p lar y m u lti-ch annel secu r ity ar r angem ent o f th e typ e sh o wn m o r e gener ally in FIG . 1 ; FIG S. 4 th r o u gh 7 , wh en ar r anged in acco r dance with FIG . 1 6 , p r esent a m o r e detailed diagr am o f an ex em p lar y centr al o f ?ce inclu ded in th e ar r angem ent o f FIG S. 2 and 3 ; FIG . 8 is a tim e sequ ence diagr am illu str ating th e ex ch ange o f co ntr o l m essages to estab lish a secu r e call in th e ar r angem ent o f FIG S. 2 and 3 ; FIG . 9 and FIG . 1 0 ar e detailed diagr am s o f a tr ans m it u nit and a r eceive u nit inclu ded in secu r e co m m u ni catio n ter m inal adap ter s in th e ar r angem ent o f FIG S. 2 and 3 ; FIG . 1 1 and FIG . 1 2 ar e detailed diagr am s o f a tr ans m it u nit and a r eceive u nit u sed in a ?r st alter native em b o dim ent o f th e inventio n; and FIG . 1 3 and FIG . 1 4 ar e detailed diagr am s o f a tr ans m it u nit and a r eceive u nit u sed in a seco nd alter native em b o dim ent o f th e inventio n. G ener al D escr ip tio n FIG . 1 is a gener aliz ed diagr am o f an ex em p lar y secu r ity ar r angem ent u sed to illu str ate th e im p o r tant p r incip les o f th e p r esent inventio n. Th e ar r angem ent o f FIG . 1 inclu des two u ser statio ns 1 0 0 6 and 1 0 0 6 ' b o th o f wh ich ar e co nnected to an integr ated ser vices digital netwo r k (ISD N ) 1 0 0 7 . An integr ated ser vices digital netwo r k is de?ned as a netwo r k evo lved f r o m th e tele p h o ny integr ated digital netwo r k th at p r o vides end-to end digital co nnectivity to su p p o r t a wide r ange o f ser vices, inclu ding vo ice and no n-vo ice ser vices, to wh ich u ser s h ave access b y a lim ited set o f standar d m u ltip u r p o se cu sto m er inter f aces. N etwo r k 1 0 0 7 will typ ically inclu de co m m o n co m m u nicatio n p ath s th at ar e easily accessib le to th ir d p ar ties, e. g. , th e m icr o wave link s in a lo ng-distance telep h o ne netwo r k o r th e tim e-m u ltip lex ed lines o f tim e divisio n system s. In th e ar r angem ent o f FIG . 1 , each u ser statio n in clu des a u ser ter m inal, an inter f ace cir cu it r ef er r ed to as a T-inter f ace cir cu it and de?ned later h er ein, and a secu r e co m m u nicato n ter m inal adap ter . Fo r ex am p le, u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 inclu des u ser ter m inal 1 0 0 2 , T-inter f ace cir cu it 1 2 0 and secu r e co m m u nicatio n ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 and u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 inclu des u ser ter m inal 1 0 0 2 ' , T-inter f ace cir cu it 1 2 0 ' and secu r e co m 2 0 2 5 3 0 3 5 4 0 4 5 5 0 5 5 6 0 6 5 4 m u nicatio n ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 ' . Th e u ser statio ns 1 0 0 6 and 1 0 0 6 ' ar e co u p led to netwo r k 1 0 0 7 via u ser access lines 1 0 0 4 and 1 0 0 4 ' . Each u ser access line, e. g. , 1 0 0 4 , is a f o u r -wir e line with a ser ial b it str eam b eing tr ansm itted f r o m u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 to netwo r k 1 0 0 7 u sing o ne p air o f wir es and a ser ial b it str eam b eing tr ansm itted f r o m netwo r k 1 0 0 7 to u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 u sing th e o th er p air o f wir es. User access line 1 0 0 4 h as two 6 4 k ilo b its p er seco nd B-ch annels B1 and B2 and a 1 6 k ilo b its p er seco nd D -ch annel de?ned th er eo n (th e ch annels B1 , B2 and D o f u ser access line 1 0 0 4 ar e sh o wn in FIG . 1 ). Signaling inf o r m atio n is co nveyed b etween u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 and netwo r k 1 0 0 7 via th e D -ch annel o f access line 1 0 0 4 . Th e B-ch annels B1 and B2 ar e cir cu it-switch ed b y netwo r k 1 0 0 7 to co r r esp o nd ing ch annels o f , in gener al, dif f er ent destinatio n u ser statio ns. Ho wever , wh en u sed f o r secu r e co m m u nica tio n in acco r dance with th e inventio n, b o th B-ch annels ar e cir cu it switch ed to th e sam e destinatio n u ser statio n. To initiate secu r e co m m u nicatio n with u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 ' , u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 tr ansm its a call r equ est in th e D -ch annel o f access line 1 0 0 4 to netwo r k 1 0 0 7 de?ning a secu r e call to u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 ' . N etwo r k 1 0 0 7 r e sp o nds to th e call r equ est b y estab lish ing co nnectio ns 1 0 0 8 and 1 0 0 9 b etween th e ch annels B1 and B2 o f ac cess line 1 0 0 4 and th e co r r esp o nding ch annels B1 and B2 o f access line 1 0 0 4 ' to u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 ' . Advanta geo u sly, co nnectio ns 1 0 0 8 and 1 0 0 9 m ay b e estab lish ed alo ng p h ysically sep ar ate p ath s. Once th e co nnectio ns 1 0 0 8 and 1 0 0 9 h ave b een co m p leted, u ser statio ns 1 0 0 6 and 1 0 0 6 h ave two co m m u nicatio n ch annels co ntem p o r aneo u sly availab le f o r inter -statio n co m m u nicatio n. Co nsider f o r ex am p le th at an inf o r m atio n m essage is o r iginally tr ansm itted f r o m u ser ter m inal 1 0 0 2 in its ch annel B1 . Th e ch annel B1 is co nveyed via T-inter f ace cir cu it 1 2 0 to secu r e co m m u nicatio n ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 wh ich sp lits th e m essage into ?r st p o r tio ns and seco nd p o r tio ns. Ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 tr ansm its th e ?r st p o r tio ns o n th e ch annel B1 o f access line 1 0 0 4 to netwo r k 1 0 0 7 and tr ansm its th e seco nd p o r tio ns o n th e ch annel B2 o f access line 1 0 0 4 . Ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 also sep ar ately encr yp ts th e ?r st p o r tio ns and th e sec o nd p o r tio ns. Th e ?r st p o r tio ns ar e tr ansm itted via co nnectio n 1 0 0 8 to th e ch annel B1 o f access line 1 0 0 4 ' to u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 ' and th e seco nd p o r tio ns ar e tr ans m itted via co nnectio n 1 0 0 9 to th e ch annel B2 o f access line 1 0 0 4 ' . Secu r e co m m u nicatio n ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 r eceives th e two ch annels B1 and B2 f r o m access line 1 0 0 4 ' , sep ar ately decr yp ts th e ?r st p o r tio ns r eceived th er eo n, and co m b ines th e ?r st p o r tio ns and seco nd p o r tio ns to r ef o r m th e o r iginal m essage. Ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 ' th en tr ansm its th e m essage via T-inter f ace cir cu it 1 2 0 ' in th e ch annel B1 to u ser ter m inal 1 0 0 2 ' . Th e sp litting o f m essages into ?r st p o r tio ns and sec o nd p o r tio ns is illu str ated in FIG . 1 f o r a p ar ticu lar sp litting r o u tine. An o r iginal m essage 0 0 0 0 0 1 ll is tr ans m itted f r o m u ser ter m inal 1 0 0 2 in th e ch annel B1 and is sp lit into ?r st p o r tio ns and seco nd p o r tio ns each co m p r ising individu al b its. Th e tem p o r al o r der o f tr ansm is sio n o f th e b its o f th e m essage 0 0 0 0 0 1 ll is th at th r ee co nsecu tive l s ar e ?r st tr ansm itted f o llo wed b y ?ve co nsecu tive 0 s. Th e ?r st p o r tio ns co m p r ising th e ?r st, th ir d, ?f th and seventh b its o f th e o r iginal m essage ar e tr ansm itted f r o m ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 in th e ch annel B1 o f u ser access line 1 0 0 4 , via co nnectio n 1 0 0 8 o f netwo r k 1 0 0 7 and th e ch annel B1 o f u ser access line 1 0 0 4 ' to ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 . Th e seco nd p o r tio ns co m p r ising th e seco nd, f o u r th , six th and eigh th b its ar e 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0 5 tr ansm itted f r o m ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 in th e ch annel B2 o f u ser access line 1 0 0 4 , via co nnectio n 1 0 0 9 o f netwo r k 1 0 0 7 and th e ch annel B2 o f u ser access 1 0 0 4 to ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 . Ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 co m b ines th e r e ceived ?r st p o r tio ns and th e r eceived seco nd p o r tio ns to r ef o r m th e o r iginal m essage 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 . Fo r clar ity, th e sep ar ate encr yp tio n o f th e ?r st p o r tio ns and th e seco nd p o r tio ns is no t sh o wn in FIG . 1 . Advantageo u sly, any o ne o f a nu m b er o f p o tential sp litting r o u tines m ay b e u sed b y ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 f o r sp litting th e m essage am o ng th e ch annels B1 and B2 . N etwo r k 1 0 0 7 selects th e sp litting r o u tine to b e u sed f o r a p ar ticu lar secu r e call and inf o r m s b o th u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 and u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 o f th e selected r o u tine b y tr ansm itting secu r ity co de signals o n th e D -ch annels o f access line 1 0 0 4 and access line 1 0 0 4 , r esp ectively. Su ch inf o r m atio n de?ning th e selected sp litting r o u tine is itself co m m u nicated in a secu r e m anner u sing indir ect r ef er ences as descr ib ed later h er ein. Ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 th er eaf ter sp lits th e m essage into ?r st p o r tio ns and seco nd p o r tio ns in acco r dance with th e selected sp lit ting r o u tine and ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 ' co m b ines r e ceived f ir st p o r tio ns and r eceived seco nd p o r tio ns in acco r dance with a co m b ining r o u tine th at is th e inver se o f th e selected sp litting r o u tine. In a ?r st alter native em b o dim ent descr ib ed h er ein, th e m essage, r ath er th an b eing sp lit am o ng th e two cir cu it-switch ed B-ch annels, is instead sp lit am o ng two lo gical ch annels o n th e p ack et-switch ed D -ch annel. In a seco nd alter native em b o dim ent also descr ib ed h er ein, th e m essage is sp lit am o ng co nsecu tive p ack ets in a single lo gical ch annel o n th e p ack et-switch ed D -ch an nel. 1 5 2 0 2 5 It sh o u ld b e no ted th at th e u se o f th e netwo r k 1 0 0 7 in I th e ar r angem ent o f FIG . 1 is itself o nly an ex am p le. User statio ns 1 0 0 6 and 1 0 0 6 ' co u ld instead b e co nnected b y any o f a nu m b er o f m u lti-ch annel netwo r k s, f o r ex am p le sep ar ate cir cu it-switch ed o r p ack et-switch ed netwo r k s. Fu r th er , alth o u gh th e secu r e co m m u nicatio n ter m inal adap ter 1 3 0 is sh o wn in FIG . 1 as b eing p ar t o f u ser statio n 1 0 0 6 , th e f u nctio ns o f adap ter 1 3 0 co u ld b e p er f o r m ed elsewh er e f o r ex am p le, at a sep ar ate lo ca tio n near u ser ter m inal 1 0 0 2 o r with in netwo r k 1 0 0 7 . D ETAILED D ESCRIPTION FIG S. 2 and 3 , wh en ar r anged in acco r dance with FIG . 1 5 , p r esent a diagr am o f a sp eci?c secu r ity ar r angem ent u sing an illu str ative m eth o d and ap p ar atu s f o r m u lti-ch annel secu r e co m m u nicatio n in acco r dance with th e p r esent inventio n. Th e ex em p lar y ar r angem ent o f FIG . 2 and 3 r ep laces th e gener aliz ed netwo r k 1 0 0 7 o f FIG . 1 with a m o r e sp eci?c em b o dim ent co m p r ising two centr al o f ?ces 1 0 0 and 1 0 0 ' wh ich ar e dir ectly inter co nnected via six b idir ectio nal, digital tr ansm issio n f acilities 1 0 1 th r o u gh 1 0 6 . (In FIG S. 2 and 3 , u ser access lines 1 0 0 4 and 1 0 0 4 ' as well as lines 1 0 0 5 and 1 0 0 5 ' ar e each dr awn as two lines, o ne f o r each tr ansm issio n dir ectio n, r ath er th an b eing dr awn as th r ee lines f o r th e individu al ch annels B1 , B2 and D as in FIG . 1 ). Th e descr ip tio n wh ich f o llo ws in ar r anged in two p ar ts. Fir st th e ex em p lar y centr al o f ?ce 1 0 0 is descr ib ed. With th at as b ack gr o u nd, th e o p er atio n o f th e o ver all ar r angem ent f o r secu r e co m m u nicatio n sh o wn in FIG S. 2 and 3 is th en descr ib ed. Centr al Of ?ce 1 0 0 FIG S. 4 th r o u gh 7 , wh en ar r anged in acco r dance with FIG . 1 6 , p r esent a m o r e detailed diagr am o f th e 4 0 4 5 6 5 6 ex em p lar y centr al o f ?ce 1 0 0 . Centr al o f ?ce 1 0 0 in clu des 2 6 switch ing m o du les 5 0 1 th r o u gh 5 2 6 , and a tim e-m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 to p r o vide cir cu it-switch ed co m m u nicatio n ch annels am o ng a p lu r ality o f co nven tio nal su b scr ib er sets, e. g. , 2 3 th r o u gh 2 6 . Tim e-m u lti p lex ed switch 1 0 inclu des a tim e-sh ar ed sp ace divisio n switch wh ich o p er ates in f r am es o f 2 5 6 tim e slo ts o r ch annels o f ap p r o x im ately 4 8 8 nano seco nds each to co m p lete p ath s am o ng its 6 4 inp u t/ o u tp u t p o r t p air s P1 th r o u gh P6 4 . Each switch ing m o du le is co nnected to two inp u t/ o u tp u t p o r t p air s. Fo r ex am p le, switch ing m o du le 5 0 1 is co nnected to inp u t/ o u tp u t p o r t p air s P1 and P2 . Each switch ing m o du le inclu des a co ntr o l u nit wh ich co ntr o ls switch ing m o du le o p er atio n inclu ding th e estab lish m ent o f cir cu it-switch ed ch annels b y a tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit. Fo r ex am p le, switch ing m o du le 5 0 1 inclu des co ntr o l u nit 1 7 wh ich co ntr o ls th e o p er atio n o f tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 1 and switch ing m o du le 5 2 6 inclu des co ntr o l u nit 1 8 wh ich co ntr o ls th e o p er atio n o f tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 2 . Each switch ing m o du le f u r th er inclu des a nu m b er o f line u nits th at inter f ace th e analo g lines f r o m su b scr ib er sets to th e tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit. Su ch line u nit inter f ace f u nc tio ns inclu de necessar y analo g to digital and digital to analo g co nver sio ns as well as m u ltip lex ing and dem u lti p lex ing o p er atio ns. In switch ing m o du le 5 0 1 , line u nits 1 9 and 2 0 inter f ace th e analo g lines f r o m su b scr ib er sets 2 3 and 2 4 to tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 1 . Th e o p er a tio n o f line u nits 1 9 and 2 0 is co ntr o lled b y co ntr o l u nit 1 7 via a co m m u nicatio n p ath 2 7 . Th e switch ing m o du le co ntr o l u nits, e. g. , 1 7 and 1 8 , and a centr al co ntr o l 3 0 u sed to co ntr o l th e o p er atio n o f tim e-m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 , co m m u nicate with each o th er via an inter p r o cesso r co m m u nicatio n m ech anism u sing p r edeter m ined co ntr o l ch annels o f tim e-m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 and a co ntr o l distr ib u tio n u nit 3 1 . Wh en, f o r ex am p le, co ntr o l u nit 1 7 ?r st detects an o f f -h o o k co nditio n o f su b scr ib er set 2 3 and su b sequ ently detects th e dialing o f a sequ ence o f digits de?ning o ne o f th e o th er su b scr ib er sets ser ved b y switch ing m o du le 5 0 1 , e. g. , set 2 4 , co n tr o l u nit 1 7 and centr al co ntr o l 3 0 ex ch ange co ntr o l m essages and co ntr o l u nit 1 th er eaf ter ef f ects th e estab lish m ent b y tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 1 o f a b idir ec tio nal, cir cu it-switch ed co m m u nicatio n ch annel b e tween su b scr ib er sets 2 3 and 2 4 f o r th e du r atio n o f a vo ice call b etween th o se sets 2 3 and 2 4 . Fu r th er , wh en su b scr ib er set 2 3 calls a su b scr ib er set ser ved b y switch ing m o du le 5 2 6 , e. g. , set 2 6 , co ntr o l u nits 1 7 and 1 8 and centr al co ntr o l 3 0 ex ch ange co ntr o l m essages to estab lish th e call. Centr al co ntr o l 3 0 wr ites instr u ctio ns via a p ath 4 9 into a co ntr o l m em o r y 2 9 def ining an availab le tim e-m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 ch annel b etween tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nits 1 1 and 1 2 . Co ntr o l u nit 1 7 ef f ects th e estab lish m ent b y tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 1 o f a cir cu it-switch ed co m m u nicatio n ch annel b etween su b scr ib er set 2 3 and th e availab le tim e-m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 ch annel. Sim ilar ly, co ntr o l u nit 1 8 ef f ects th e estab lish m ent b y tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 2 o f a cir cu it switch ed co m m u nicatio n ch annel b etween su b scr ib er set 2 6 and th e availab le tim e-m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 ch annel. Th e switch ing system o f centr al o f f ice 1 0 0 is o f th e tim e-sp ace-tim e typ e with tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 1 r ep r esenting th e ?r st tim e stage, tim e-m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 th e sp ace stage and tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 2 th e seco nd tim e stage f o r th e call f r o m su b scr ib er set 2 3 to su b scr ib er set 2 6 . Th e p o r tio n o f th e system de scr ib ed th u s f ar is disclo sed in m o r e detail in US Pat. 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0 7 N o . 4 ,3 2 2 ,8 4 3 issu ed to H. J . Beu sch er et al. , o n M ar ch 3 0 , 1 9 8 2 . Centr al o f ?ce 1 0 0 also inclu des switch ing m o du le 5 0 0 0 (FIG . 7 ) wh ich inter f aces centr al o f f ice 1 0 0 to six b idir ectio nal, digital tr ansm issio n f acilities 1 0 1 th r o u gh 1 0 6 su ch as th e 2 4 -ch annel T1 car r ier system disclo sed in U. S. Pat. N o . 4 ,0 5 9 ,7 3 1 issu ed to J . H. G r een et al. , o n N o v. 2 2 , 1 9 7 7 . Switch ing m o du le 5 0 0 0 inclu des a tim e slo t inter ch ange u nit 5 0 1 1 and an asso ciated co ntr o l u nit 5 0 1 7 wh ich ar e su b stantially identical to tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 1 and co ntr o l u nit 1 7 , r esp ectively. Tim e slo t inter ch ange u nit 5 0 1 1 p r o vides cir cu it-switch ed co m m u nicatio n ch annels b etween tim e-m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 and th e ch annels o f th e tr ansm issio n f acilities 1 0 1 th r o u gh 1 0 6 . Six digital f acility inter f aces 5 0 2 1 th r o u gh 5 0 2 6 inter f ace tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 5 0 1 1 and th e tr ansm issio n f acilities 1 0 1 th r o u gh 1 0 6 . Th e o p er atio n o f su ch digital f acility inter f aces is descr ib ed in U. S. Pat. N o . 4 ,5 5 0 ,4 0 4 , issu ed Oct. 2 9 , 1 9 8 5 . In th e p r esent ex em p lar y em b o dim ent, tr ansm issio n f acilities 1 0 1 th r o u gh 1 0 6 ar e co nnected to centr al o f f ice 1 0 0 ' , with tr ansm issio n f acilities 1 0 1 th r o u gh 1 0 3 b eing lo cated alo ng a f ir st p ath and tr ansm issio n f acilities 1 0 4 th r o u gh 1 0 6 alo ng a seco nd, geo gr ap h ically distinct p ath . Ch annel 1 o n tr ansm issio n f acility 1 0 1 and ch annel 1 o n tr ansm issio n f acility 1 0 4 ar e r eser ved f o r co ntr o l co m m u nicatio ns b etween centr al o f f ice 1 0 0 and centr al o f f ice 1 0 0 . Co ntr o l co m m u nicatio ns ar e ef f ected b e tween centr al co ntr o l 3 0 and th e r eser ved co ntr o l ch an nels o n th e tr ansm issio n f acilities 1 0 1 and 1 0 4 via co n tr o l distr ib u tio n u nit 3 1 and p r edeter m ined ch annels o f tim e-m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 and tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 5 0 1 1 . Centr al o f f ice 1 0 0 f u r th er inclu des f o u r switch ing m o du les 1 0 0 0 , 2 0 0 0 , 3 0 0 0 and 4 0 0 0 (FIG S. 5 and 6 ) to p r o vide b o th cir cu it switch ing and p ack et switch ing ser vice to a p lu r ality o f u ser ter m inals e. g. , 1 0 0 1 , 1 0 0 2 , 4 0 0 1 and 4 0 0 2 , r ep r esenting, f o r ex am p le, cu sto m er teleter m inals, vendo r datab ases, telep h o ne o p er ato r p o sitio n ter m inals o r p ack et access p o r ts. Only switch ing m o du les 1 0 0 0 and 4 0 0 0 ar e sh o wn in detail in FIG S. 5 and 6 . Each u ser ter m inal, e. g. , 1 0 0 2 , tr ansm its inf o r m atio n to and r eceives inf o r m atio n f r o m its asso ciated switch ing m o du le, e. g. , 1 0 0 0 , in two 6 4 k ilo b its p er seco nd ch annels r ef er r ed to as B-ch annels and in o ne 1 6 k ilo b its p er seco nd ch annel r ef er r ed to as a D -ch annel. Th e B-ch annels m ay b e u sed to co nvey digitiz ed vo ice sam p les at th e r ate o f 8 0 0 0 , eigh t-b it sam p les p er seco nd o r to co nvey digital data at a r ate o f 6 4 k ilo b its p er seco nd. Each B-ch annel is sep ar ately cir cu it-switch ed b y th e o f f ice to o th er u ser ter m inals, e. g. , 1 0 0 1 , 4 0 0 1 , 4 0 0 2 , o r su b scr ib er sets, e. g. , 2 3 th r o u gh 2 6 , o r to th e ch annels o f tr ansm issio n f acilities 1 0 1 th r o u gh 1 0 6 . Th e two B-ch annels f r o m a u ser ter m inal ar e r ef er r ed to h er ein as th e B1 ch annel and th e B2 ch annel. Th e D ch annel f r o m a u ser ter m inal is u sed b o th to co nvey signaling p ack ets to ef f ect m essage signaling b etween th at u ser ter m inal and th e o f f ice and to co nvey data p ack ets am o ng u ser ter m inals. Th e D -ch annel is p ack et switch ed eith er to o th er u ser ter m inals o r to a co ntr o l u nit 1 0 1 7 wh ich co ntr o ls th e estab lish m ent o f b o th cir cu it-switch ed calls and p ack et-switch ed calls with in switch ing m o du le 1 0 0 0 . Th e m essage signaling b etween u ser ter m inals and co ntr o l u nit 1 0 1 7 can b e o f eith er th e f u nctio nal o r stim u lu s typ es. Fu nctio nal signaling in vo lves a degr ee o f intelligent p r o cessing in its gener a tio n o r analysis wh er eas stim u lu s signaling is eith er gener ated as a r esu lt o f a single event at a u ser ter m inal, 2 0 2 5 3 0 4 0 5 5 6 0 6 5 8 e. g. , a k ey dep r essio n, o r co ntains a b asic instr u ctio n f r o m th e switch ing system to b e ex ecu ted b y a u ser ter m inal. In th e p r esent ex em p lar y em b o dim ent, inf o r m atio n is co nveyed b etween a u ser ter m inal, e. g. , 1 0 0 2 , and switch ing m o du le 1 0 0 0 via a f o u r -wir e, u ser access line 1 0 0 4 u sing o ne p air o f wir es f o r each dir ectio n o f tr ans m issio n. User line 1 0 0 4 tr ansm its a ser ial b it str eam at th e r ate o f 1 9 2 k ilo b its p er seco nd wh ich co m p r ises 1 4 4 k ilo b its p er seco nd f o r th e ab o ve-m entio ned two 6 4 k ilo b its p er seco nd B-ch annels and o ne 1 6 k ilo b its p er seco nd D -ch annel and wh ich f u r th er co m p r ises 4 8 k ilo b its p er seco nd u sed f o r a nu m b er o f f u nctio ns inclu ding f r am ing, D C b alancing, co ntr o l and m aintenance. User line 1 0 0 4 r ep r esents wh at is r ef er r ed to b y th e Inter na tio nal Telegr ap h and Telep h o ne Co nsu ltative Co m m it tee (CCITT) as th e T-inter f ace. Th e u se o f th e T-inter f ace in th e p r esent system is o nly ex em p lar y. Th e inven tio n is equ ally ap p licab le in system s u sing o th er access m eth o ds. In switch ing m o du le 1 0 0 0 , th e u ser lines, e. g. , 1 0 0 3 and 1 0 0 4 , ar e ter m inated b y two digital line u nits 1 1 0 1 and 1 1 0 2 . Inf o r m atio n is co nveyed b etween each o f th e digital line u nits 1 1 0 1 and 1 1 0 2 and a tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 0 1 1 via a p lu r ality o f 3 2 -ch annel b idir ec tio nal tim e-m u ltip lex ed data b u ses 1 2 0 1 . Fu r th er , inf o r m atio n is co nveyed b etween each o f th e digital line u nits 1 1 0 1 and 1 1 0 2 and a p ack et switch ing u nit 1 4 0 0 via a p lu r ality o f 3 2 -ch annel b idir ectio nal tim e-m u ltip lex ed data b u ses 1 2 0 2 . Th e data b u ses 1 2 0 1 ar e u sed p r im ar ily to co nvey B-ch annel inf o r m atio n wh ich is cir cu it switch ed b y tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 0 1 1 eith er to u ser ter m inals ser ved b y switch ing m o du le 1 0 0 0 o r to tim e-m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 . Ho wever th e data b u ses 1 2 0 1 ar e also u sed to co nvey D -ch annel inf o r m atio n wh ich is f u r th er co nveyed via cer tain tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 0 1 1 ch annels th at ar e p r edeter m ined at system initializ atio n and via a 3 2 -ch annel b idir ectio nal data b u s 1 2 0 5 to p ack et switch ing u nit 1 4 0 0 . Each ch an nel o r tim e slo t o n th e data b u ses 1 2 0 1 can inclu de eigh t B-ch annel b its f r o m o ne u ser ter m inal o r two D -ch annel b its f r o m each o f f o u r dif f er ent u ser ter m inals. Th e data b u ses 1 2 0 2 ar e u sed to co nvey o nly D -ch annel inf o r m a tio n. Each ch annel o r tim e slo t o n th e data b u ses 1 2 0 2 and 1 2 0 5 can inclu de two D -ch annel b its f r o m each o f f o u r dif f er ent u ser ter m inals. = In th e p r esent ex em p lar y em b o dim ent, p ack et switch ing u nit 1 4 0 0 inclu des 9 6 p r o to co l h andler s 1 7 0 0 -0 th r o u gh 1 7 0 0 -9 5 , and p ack et inter co nnect 1 8 0 0 wh ich inter co nnects p r o to co l h andler s 1 7 0 0 -0 th r o u gh 1 7 0 0 -9 5 and a p r o cesso r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 . Each u ser ter m inal, e. g. , 1 0 0 2 , is asso ciated with o ne o f th e p r o to co l h andler s 1 7 0 0 -0 th r o u gh 1 7 0 0 -9 5 and, m o r e p ar ticu lar ly, with o ne o f 3 2 High -level D ata Link Co ntr o l (HD LC) cir cu its (no t sh o wn) inclu ded in th at asso ciated p r o to co l h andler . In th e p r esent em b o dim ent, co m m u nicatio n link s ar e estab lish ed b etween th e HD LC cir cu its o f th e p r o to co l h andler s and p eer HD LC cir cu its (no t sh o wn) in th e u ser ter m inals at system initializ atio n. Th ese link s ar e u sed to co nvey p ack ets with in HD LC f r am es in acco r dance with th e well-k no wn HD LC p r o to co l. Th e co nnectio ns b etween a given p r o to co l h andler and its asso ciated D -ch annels o n data b u ses 1 2 0 2 and 1 2 0 5 ar e co m p leted b y o ne o f six data f ano u t u nits (no t sh o wn). Th e p ack ets co nveyed o n th e D -ch annel co m m u nica tio n link s b etween u ser ter m inals and asso ciated p r o to co l h andler s ar e, in gener al, o f var iab le length . Each u ser ter m inal, e. g. , 1 0 0 2 , tr ansm its and r eceives p ack ets 4 ,8 0 2 ,2 2 0 9 in o ne o r m o r e lo gical co m m u nicatio n ch annels o r lo gi cal link s. In acco r dance with th is ex am p le, lo gical ch an nel LCN l is u sed to co nvey signaling p ack ets to set u p b o th cir cu it-switch ed and p ack et-switch ed calls to and f r o m u ser ter m inal 1 0 0 1 and lo gical ch annels LCN 2 th r o u gh LCN 6 ar e u sed to co nvey data p ack ets du r ing p ack et-switch ed calls to and f r o m u ser ter m inal 1 0 0 2 . Th e lo gical ch annel nu m b er o f each p ack et is de?ned b y p ar t o f a h eader o f th at p ack et. Each p ack et r eceived b y a p r o to co l h andler f r o m a u ser ter m inal is sto r ed in a r ando m access m em o r y (no t sh o wn) in th at p r o to co l h andler . If th e r eceived p ack et is a signaling p ack et, i. e. , it was r eceived in lo gical ch annel LCN I, it is tr ansm it ted via p ack et inter co nnect 1 8 0 0 to p r o cesso r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 . If th e r eceived p ack et is a data p ack et, i. e. , it was r eceived in o ne o f th e lo gical ch annel LCN 2 th r o u gh LCN 6 , and a p ack et-switch ed call h as p r evio u sly b een estab lish ed, it is tr ansm itted via p ack et inter co nnect 1 8 0 0 to th e p r o to co l h andler asso ciated with th e desti natio n u ser ter m inal f o r su b sequ ent tr ansm issio n th er eto . (If th e p ack et-switch ed call is estab lish ed b e tween two u ser ter m inals th at ar e asso ciated with th e sam e p r o to co l h andler , th e data p ack ets need no t b e tr ansm itted via p ack et inter co nnect 1 8 0 0 . Instead, th e p r o to co l h andler sim p ly tr ansm its th e data p ack ets in th e ap p r o p r iate ch annel to th e destinatio n u ser ter m i nal. ) Wh en a given p r o to co l h andler , e. g. , 1 7 0 0 -0 , h as r eceived a co m p lete p ack et f r o m a u ser ter m inal and h as deter m ined th e destinatio n o f th at p ack et, i. e. , eith er o ne o f th e o th er p r o to co l h andler s o r p r o cesso r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 , it tr ansm its a lo gic z er o Requ est To Send (RTS) signal, also r ef er r ed to h er ein as a r equ est signal, o n o ne co ndu cto r o f a six -co ndu cto r b u s 1 7 0 1 -0 to p ack et inter co nnect 1 8 0 0 . Sim ilar ly, wh en p r o cesso r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 h as a p ack et r eady f o r tr ansm issio n to o ne o f th e p r o to co l h andler s, it tr ansm its a lo gic z er o RTS signal o n o ne co ndu cto r o f a six -co ndu cto r b u s 1 3 0 1 . Pack et inter co n nect 1 8 0 0 enab les each o f th e p r o to co l h andler s and th e p r o cesso r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 to tr ansm it in a p r edeter m ined sequ ence. Since p r o cesso r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 tr ansm its sig naling p ack ets to all o f th e u ser ter m inals ser ved b y switch ing m o du le 1 0 0 0 , th e sequ ence ef f ected b y p ack et inter co nnect 1 8 0 0 enab les p r o cesso r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 six teen tim es f o r each enab ling o f an individu al p r o to co l h andler . Wh en th e p ack et inter co nnect 1 8 0 0 sequ ence r each es p r o to co l h andler 1 7 0 0 -0 , p ack et inter co nnect 1 8 0 0 r esp o nds to th e RTS signal o n b u s 1 7 0 1 -0 b y tr ans m itting a lo gic z er o Clear To Send (CTS) signal, also r ef er r ed to h er ein as a clear signal, o n a seco nd co ndu c to r o f b u s 1 7 0 1 -0 to p r o to co l h andler 1 7 0 0 -0 . Pr o to co l h andler 1 7 0 0 -0 r esp o nds to th e CTS signal b y tr ansm it ting its sto r ed p ack et at a h igh r ate, e. g. , 1 0 m egab its p er seco nd, via p ack et inter co nnect 1 8 0 0 to its destinatio n. All o f th e p r o to co l h andler s and th e p r o cesso r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 can r eceive th e p ack et, b u t in th e p r esent em b o di m ent, typ ically o nly o ne destinatio n as de?ned b y th e p ack et h eader actu ally sto r es th e p ack et f o r su b sequ ent tr ansm issio n. Only af ter th e co m p lete p ack et h as b een tr ansm itted b y p r o to co l h andler 1 7 0 0 -0 , do es th e p ack et inter co nnect 1 8 0 0 sequ ence r esu m e. Th e r eceip t o f th e p ack et b y th e destinatio n p r o to co l h andler o r b y p r o ces so r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 is ack no wledged b y th e tr ansm issio n o f an ack no wledgm ent p ack et b ack to p r o to co l h andler 1 7 0 0 -0 . Th e o th er th r ee switch ing m o du les equ ip p ed f o r p ack et switch ing ar e su b stantially identical to switch ing m o du le 1 0 0 0 . In switch ing m o du le 4 0 0 0 , th e elem ents 1 5 2 0 2 5 3 0 3 5 4 0 4 5 5 0 5 5 6 0 6 5 1 0 ar e nu m b er ed ex actly 3 0 0 0 gr eater th an th eir co u nter p ar t elem ents in switch ing m o du le 1 0 0 0 . Th e p r o to co l h andler s 1 7 0 0 -0 th r o u gh 1 7 0 0 -9 5 and th e p r o cesso r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 in switch ing m o du le 1 0 0 0 and th eir co u n ter p ar t elem ents in switch ing m o du le 4 0 0 0 ar e r ef er r ed to h er ein as p ack et switch ing no des since th ey accu m u late r eceived data b its into p ack ets and su b sequ ently tr ansm it th e p ack ets o n to war d th eir destinatio ns. In th e p r esent ex am p le, p r o to co l h andler s 1 7 0 0 -0 and 1 7 0 0 -2 th r o u gh 1 7 0 0 -9 5 ar e co nnected to th e D -ch annels f r o m u ser ter m inals and ar e r ef er r ed to as u ser p ack et switch ing no des. Since p r o cesso r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 is co nnected to co nvey co ntr o l inf o r m atio n to and f r o m co ntr o l u nit 1 0 1 7 , p r o cesso r inter f ace 1 3 0 0 is r ef er r ed to as a co ntr o l p ack et switch ing no de. One p r o to co l h andler in each switch ing m o du le, e. g. , p r o to co l h andler 1 7 0 0 -1 in switch ing m o du le 1 0 0 0 and p r o to co l h andler 4 7 0 0 -1 in switch ing m o du le 4 0 0 0 , is u sed f o r switch ing data p ack ets f o r inter -m o du le p ack et calls and is r ef er r ed to as an inter m ediate p ack et switch ing no de. In th e p r esent em b o dim ent, f o u r ch annels o n data b u s 1 2 0 5 ar e co nnected at system initializ atio n b y tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 0 1 1 to f o u r ch annels, e. g. , ch annels 1 0 9 th r o u gh 1 1 2 , at inp u t/ o u tp u t p o r t p air P5 5 o f tim e m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 . Sim ilar ly, f o u r ch annels o n data b u s 4 2 0 5 (FIG . 3 ) ar e co nnected b y tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 4 0 1 1 to ch annels 1 0 9 th r o u gh 1 1 2 at inp u t / o u tp u t p o r t p air P6 1 . Co ntr o l m em o r y 2 9 de?nes th at a b idir ectio nal co m m u nicatio n p ath is to b e estab lish ed b etween inp u t/ o u tp u t p o r t p air s P5 5 and P6 1 du r ing ch annels 1 0 9 th r o u gh 1 1 2 o f each tim e-m u ltip lex ed switch 1 0 cycle. By th e u se o f th ese p r ede?ned co nnec tio ns, p r o to co l h andler s 1 7 0 0 -1 and 4 7 0 0 -1 can tr ansm it p ack ets eith er o ne p ack et at a tim e at a r ate o f 2 5 6 k ilo b its p er seco nd u sing all f o u r ch annels, o r u p to f o u r p ack ets at a tim e each at a r ate o f 6 4 k ilo b its p er seco nd and each u sing o ne o f th e f o u r ch annels, o r var io u s o th er co m b inatio ns. (Wh en m u ltip le ch annels ar e u sed to tr ansm it p ack ets at r ates o f n> < 6 4 k ilo b its p er seco nd, th e co nnectio ns m u st b e m ade th r o u gh tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nits 1 0 1 1 and 4 0 1 1 in su ch m anner th at th e b its o f th e nX 6 4 k ilo b its p er seco nd b it str eam , ar e r eceived b y p r o to co l h andler 4 7 0 0 1 in th e sam e o r der th at th ey wer e tr ansm itted b y p r o to co l h andler 1 7 0 0 -1 . ) Assu m e th at u ser ter m inal 1 0 0 1 is asso ciated with p r o to co l h an dler 1 7 0 0 -0 and u ser ter m inal 4 0 0 1 is asso ciated with p r o to co l h andler 4 7 0 0 -0 . Once a p ack et-switch ed call h as b een estab lish ed b etween u ser ter m inals 1 0 0 1 and 4 0 0 1 , a data p ack et is f ir st tr ansm itted f r o m u ser ter m i nal 1 0 0 1 to p r o to co l h andler 1 7 0 0 -0 at a r ate o f 1 6 k ilo b its p er seco nd and sto r ed. Wh en enab led b y p ack et inter co nnect 1 8 0 0 , p r o to co l h andler 1 7 0 0 -0 th en tr ans m its th e data p ack et at a 1 0 m egab its p er seco nd r ate to p r o to co l h andler 1 7 0 0 -1 . Pr o to co l h andler 1 7 0 0 -1 tr ans m its th e data p ack et via th e p r edeter m ined ch annels o f b u s 1 2 0 5 , tim e-slo t inter ch ange u nit 1 0 1 1 , tim e-m u lti p lex ed switch 1 0 , tim e-slo t inter ch ange 4 0 1 1 and b u s 4 2 0 5 to p r o to co l h andler 4 7 0 0 -1 at, f o r ex am p le, a 2 5 6 k ilo b its p er seco nd r ate. Wh en enab led b y p ack et inter - co nnect 4 8 0 0 , p r o to co l h andler 4 7 0 0 -1 th en tr ansm its th e data p ack et at th e 1 0 m egab its p er seco nd r ate to p r o to co l h andler 4 7 0 0 -0 . Finally p r o to co l h andler 4 7 0 0 -0 tr ansm its th e data p ack et at th e r ate o f 1 6 k ilo b its p er seco nd to u ser ter m inal 4 0 0 1 . Of co u r se, ap p r o p r iate entr ies m u st b e m ade in r o u ting tab les in each o f th e p r o to co l h andler s 1 7 0 0 -0 , 1 7 0 0 -1 , 4 7 0 0 -1 and 4 7 0 0 -0 as p ar t o f th e p r o cess o f estab lish ing su ch a p ack et switch ed call. Th e o p er atio n o f p ack et switch ing u nit