An experimental distributed switching system to handle bursty computer traffic

Data and encoded voice signals differ in certain characteristics which require, if switching is the goal, slightly different approaches. Some of the characteristics of digitized speech and data are compared This paper describes an operating experimental system (three terminals) which switches messages of variable message length occurring at periodic and aperiodic rates, achieves fast access time, and accommodates bit rate inputs from teletypewriter (110 bits/sec) to disc transfer rates (4 × 10 6 bits/sec).