Kytkentävaihtoja

Kytkentävaihtoja, often translated as circuit switching, is a method of establishing a dedicated communication path between two devices before data transmission begins. This path, or circuit, is exclusively reserved for the duration of the communication session. Once the session is complete, the circuit is released. This is in contrast to packet switching, where data is broken into packets and sent independently through a network, sharing resources with other data transmissions.

The process of kytkentävaihtoja typically involves three phases: circuit establishment, data transfer, and circuit clearing. During establishment, a connection is set up end-to-end through the network. This might involve signaling protocols that reserve network resources like bandwidth. Once established, data can flow freely and without interruption or delay caused by other traffic. During the data transfer phase, the dedicated circuit ensures a guaranteed quality of service, making it suitable for real-time applications like voice calls, where latency is critical. Finally, when the communication ends, the circuit is cleared, releasing the reserved network resources.

Historically, kytkentävaihtoja was the dominant technology for telecommunications, particularly in the public switched telephone network (PSTN). While still in use for certain applications, packet switching has become more prevalent due to its efficiency in utilizing network resources and its flexibility for handling diverse data types. However, the concept of dedicated paths remains relevant in some modern networking scenarios, often integrated within broader packet-switched architectures to ensure performance for specific services.