5ESS Telephone Switching System

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Overview
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Overview

The MIT 5ESS-2000 telephone switch, a state of the art switching system currently equipped with 5E16.2 generic software, provides advanced call processing features as well as video conference, etc.

The MIT 5ESS-2000 incorporates a distributed system design, using a host and two Extended Switch Module (EXM) sites to serve the three main campus areas: Main, West, and East. The host is in building E19 (East), and the EXMs are in buildings 24 (Main) and NW12 (West). The host has an administrative module (AM) and a communications module (CM). The AM is a duplex processor that provides centrally such functions as administration and maintenance control. The CM switches messages between the processors of the SMs and between the SMs and the AM. Each EXM is connected to the system's CM by single mode fiber optic links. The 5ESS-2000 has a total of 6 switch modules (SM), that are distributed among each of the aforementioned three sites.

The 5ESS-2000 AM and CM are in E19. The SMs are the basic growth unit of the 5ESS. The SM performs on a distributed basis such functions as line and trunk terminations, conversion between analog and digital signals, call processing, and time division switching of time slots. SMs can be added modularly for growth with minimum effect on the AM and CM.