SWITCHING UNIT AND METHOD FOR A TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK

A switching unit for a telecommunication network, such as an SDH telecommunications network, comprises a command controlled switching matrix having at least two switching degrees of freedom and a control logic for generating a first type of control commands which, for a group of connections, define the switching thereof in a first degree of freedom, and at least a second type of control commands which specify, for a given connection, the switching thereof in all degrees of freedom. Between the control logic and the switching matrix, a conversion circuit there is operative for combining control commands of the first type with control commands of the second type into a control command of the second type.