Hardware architecture for the TROPICO-RA switching system

TROPICO-RA is a fully digital switching system which is currently being developed. A description is given of its hardware design, emphasizing the characteristics of fully distributed control, high inherent reliability, and graceful service degradation in the presence of failures. The complete hardware independence between the voice and interprocessor message structures result in a cost and performance optimization. The distributed concentration performed by the multiplexed connection of modules on the intermodular loops implies a convenient physical structure for voice and interprocessor connection. Finally, the existence of up to four connection planes implies a solid, failure-tolerant system