Method and devices for establishing point-to-multipoint connections and multipoint-to-point connections

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for establishing point-to-multipoint connections (A14, A33, A34) and multipoint-to-point connections (B14, B15, B35) in a switching matrix of a plurality of stages (I , II, III) each having a plurality of switching modules (11-15, 21-25, 31-35). For this purpose, it is proposed if switch modules (21-25) are present in at least one stage (II), which, due to the design, also has point-to-multipoint connections (A14, A33, A34) as well as multipoint-to-point connections (B14, B15, B35), point-to-multipoint connections (A14, A33, A34) in switching modules (25) to switch, in which already more inputs than outputs are loaded with connections, and multipoint-to-point connections ( B14, B15, B35) of switching modules (24),