Patent attributes
An apparatus having n-number of working cross-connects for cross-connecting an n-bit input signals arriving from a plurality of input paths on a per-bit basis; n-number of first logic circuits for calculating the exclusive-ORs of each said n-bit and applying outputs to a standby cross-connect for providing outputs; n-number of second logic circuits for calculating the exclusive-ORs of said output signals from each of said working cross-connects and from the single standby cross-connect; and third logic circuits for selecting output signals of said working cross-connects and outputs of the second logic circuits. The apparatus detects the occurrence of an abnormality in working cross-connects by monitoring the outputs of the second logic circuits, identifies the faulty cross-connect by successively turning off one of the n-inputs to the first and second logic circuits, and select outputs from the second logic circuits instead of from the faulty cross-connect by using the third logic circuits.