Patent ID: 6937581

Claim:
A switching device for parallel connection of a plurality of subscriber terminal devices, said switching device comprising: a plug-in module having a plurality of subscriber interfaces, each connected to one of the subscriber terminal devices; and a control unit having: a central control unit for controlling central switching events in said switching device; and a peripheral control unit for controlling linking of said subscriber interfaces to said subscriber terminal devices, said peripheral control unit having an interface driver for controlling at least two of said subscriber interfaces, said interface driver having: a master subscriber control unit for controlling a principal subscriber terminal device; at least one subsidiary subscriber control unit for controlling at least one subsidiary subscriber terminal device; a central driver control unit for central controlling of administration events in said interface driver; a first connection device physically connecting said master subscriber control unit and said at least one subsidiary subscriber control unit; and a second connection device logically connecting said master subscriber control unit to said at least one subsidiary subscriber control unit separately from said first connection device.