Patent ID: 7339936

Claim:
A switching device for telecommunication networks, comprising: a number of I/O ports for inputting incoming data streams and outputting outgoing data streams of arbitrary protocols, said I/O ports being arranged in groups while said groups being respectively positioned on two or more I/O cards; at least a basic switching fabric SF block for handling internal data streams, a number of adaptation functional blocks AFBs associated with at least said basic switching fabric SF block and forming a common pool of AFBs of at least said basic SF block, wherein each AFB being capable of performing at least one of the following adaptation functions: i. converting one or more of said incoming data streams or of portions of said incoming data streams into one or more said internal data streams suitable for being handled in the SF; and ii. converting one or more said internal data streams handled by the SF into one or more said outgoing data streams or portions thereof; and a cross-connecting distribution block DB for switching between said I/O ports and said adaptation functional blocks AFBs and configurable to provide a required connection between any of said I/O ports positioned on any of said I/O cards, and any of said adaptation functional blocks AFBs from said common pool of AFBs.