Patent ID: 7477595

Claim:
A switching matrix comprising: a switching fabric; a first line accommodating section that includes a first input port configured to receive a first data signal that represents a working route for communications between two terminals and to selectively forward the first data signal to the switching fabric, and a first line control section configured to control the first input port using a first determination function of a first SONET framer, to forward the first data signal to the switching fabric when the first data signal is being received normally and to cut-off forwarding of the first data signal to the switching fabric when the first data signal is being received abnormally; and a second line accommodating section that includes a second input port configured to receive a second data signal that represents a backup route for communications between the two terminals and to selectively forward the second data signal to the switching fabric, and a second line control section configured to control the second input port using a second determination function of a second SONET framer, to forward the second data signal to the switching fabric when the first data signal is being received abnormally and to cut-off forwarding of the second data signal to the switching fabric when the first data signal is being received normally, where the second line control section is different from the first line control section.