EXCHANGE ARRANGEMENT AND EXCHANGE METHOD

PURPOSE: To provide switching arrangement and a method which can use frames most suitable for individual data rates. CONSTITUTION: A time division multiplex(TDM) circuit switchboard 100 handles TDM frames different by sizes in a single common timespace-time switching structure. Time slot switching stages 131 and 141 and a time multiplexing space stage 120 in this switching structure receive plural overlapping frames different by sizes in each incoming super frame of a series of super frames and alternately switch these frames different by sizes through this switching structure to form a series of super frames having plural TDM frames different by sizes. Switching of individual received frames is started independently of the frame size immediately when entire frames are received.