Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GTE Burst Switch Collection
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Information, Technology and Society
GTE Laboratories Inc.
NMAH.AC.0833
Archival Resource Key
7 Cubic feet
14 boxes, 6 map-folders
1984-1999.
Drawings, patents, notes, computer printouts, articles, and technical papers documenting the GTE Burst-switch; also, subject files relating to many aspects of the burst switch project.
English
.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into ten series.
Series 1: Articles and Papers, 1983-1999
Series 2: Patents, 1987
Series 3: Manuals and Instruction Guides, 1987-1990
Series 4: Testing Materials, 1985-1987
Series 5: Notes, 1985-1988
Series 6: Subject Files, 1985-1991
Series 7: Software/Firmware, 1987-1989
Series 8: Datacon Wire Wrap Listings, 1985-1987
Series 9: Drawings, 1984-1987
Series 10: Floppy disks, 1987-1991
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research and access on site by appointment.
Scope and Contents note
The collection is arranged into ten series—articles and papers, patents, manuals and instructional guides, testing materials, notes, subject files, software/hardware information, Datacon wire wrap listings, drawings, and 5" and 8" floppy diskettes documenting the GTE burst-switch project. The majority of the project work was done in the early 1980s and continued through 1985. The subject files are arranged alphabetically and relate to specific aspects of the project. The drawings are divided into original and copies. The originals drawings are mylar or vellum. The Mark IIA refers to the final research model of the burst switch.
Preferred Citation
GTE Burst Switch Collection, 1984-1999, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by Thomas Muldoon on December 17, 1999.
Historical
The burst switch was developed in the 1970s-1980s at the GTE Laboratories in Waltham, Massachusetts. The burst switch was one of the first switches to demonstrate how voice and data traffic could be integrated into a single network and be handled simultaneously. It was never manufactured on a large scale, but concepts derived from the technology have been used in numerous forms of telecommunications equipment.
Custodial History
The collection was transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Information, Technology & Society (now Division of Medicine and Science) on February 22, 2003.
Processing Information
Processed by Alison Oswald, archivist, 2003.
Patents -- 20th century
Notes
Manuals
Electric switchgear
Drawings -- 1980-2000
Telecommunication
Software
Articles and Papers
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1983-1999
Articles
1.1
Archival Resource Key
1983-1999
Burst switch Articles
Archival Resource Key
1983-1999
1
Papers
1.2
Archival Resource Key
1984-1986
Jack, C.M. Confidence Intervals for the Burst Switched Ring Network Computer Simulation
Archival Resource Key
1984
1
Jack, C.M. Performance Analysis of Superchannels in a Burst-Switched Integrated Voice/Data Network
Archival Resource Key
1985
1
Jack, C.M. and Morse, J.D. Simulation and Performance Evaluation of Hub Switch Traffic Congestion
Archival Resource Key
1985
1
Jack, C.M. and Morse, J.D. Simulation of a Burst Switched Integrated Voice and Bulk Data Communications Network
Archival Resource Key
1986
1
Patents
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1987
U.S. Patent #4,644,529, High-Speed Switching Processor for a Burst-Switching Communications Systems
Archival Resource Key
1987
1
U.S. Patent #4,646,294,High-Speed Queue Sequencer for a Burst-Switching Communications System
Archival Resource Key
1987
1
U.S. Patent #4,698,799, Link Switch for a Burst-Switching Communications System
Archival Resource Key
1987
1
U.S. Patent #4,698,803, Burst-Switching Communications System
Archival Resource Key
1987
1
U.S. Patent 4,698,841, Methods of Establishing and Terminating Connections in a Distributed-Control Burst Switching Communications System
Archival Resource Key
1987
1
U.S. Patent #4,703,478, Burst-Switching Methods for an Integrated Communications System
Archival Resource Key
1987
1
U.S. Patent #4,707,825, Methods of Installing and Assigning Control Processors in a Distributed-Control Communications System
Archival Resource Key
1987
1
U.S. Patent # 4,710,916, Switching Apparatus for Burst-Switching Communications System
Archival Resource Key
1987
1
Manuals and Instruction GUides
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1987-1990
Switch Hardware Manual
Archival Resource Key
1987
2
In Switch Hardware Manual
Archival Resource Key
1990
2
Network 911 Service Initializing the Demonstration
Archival Resource Key
1990
2
Comparison of Interprocessor Communication techniques for a Burst Switch
Archival Resource Key
1989
2
Initializing and Demonstrating Services on the Exploratory Intelligent Network Testbed
Archival Resource Key
1991
2
Testing Materials
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
1985-1987
Test Log
Archival Resource Key
August 12, 1986 to December 10, 1986
2
Test Log
Archival Resource Key
December 10, 1986 to March 12, 1987
2
Test Log
Archival Resource Key
1987
2
Bench Test Procedure for Burst Switch Project (HOP bench test)
Archival Resource Key
1986
2
Analog Line Card Bench Test
Archival Resource Key
1986
2
Data Line Card Bench Test
Archival Resource Key
1986
2
Frame Test
Archival Resource Key
1986
2
HSE Bench Test
Archival Resource Key
1986
2
Test Forms
Archival Resource Key
1986
2
Notes
Archival Resource Key
1985-1988
Burst Trunk Notes
Archival Resource Key
1987-1988
10
Burst Switch #1
Archival Resource Key
1985
10
Burst Switch #2
Archival Resource Key
1985
10
Subject Files
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
1985-1991
Analog Line (history file)
Archival Resource Key
10
Analog Line Card
Archival Resource Key
1987
10
Analog Trunk Card
Archival Resource Key
1986-1987
10
Analog Trunk
Archival Resource Key
1987
10
Back Plane (history file)
Archival Resource Key
10
Board Trace Forms
Archival Resource Key
1985-1987
10
Board Change Descriptors
Archival Resource Key
1987
11
Burst Switch Project pending Tasks
Archival Resource Key
1986
11
Burst Switch Micro Code (non-channelized current version
Archival Resource Key
1987
11
Call Processor
Archival Resource Key
1987
11
Character Memory
Archival Resource Key
1987
11
Charles River Museum of Industry
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
11
Data Card Line
Archival Resource Key
1987
11
Datacon Wire Wrap Information
Archival Resource Key
1987
11
Datacon The Wire Wrapper, empty binder
Archival Resource Key
13
HSE (#120120)
Archival Resource Key
1987
11
Hub Switch/HOP Micro-Code
Archival Resource Key
1987
13
Inventory
Archival Resource Key
1985
11
ISO Board Information
Archival Resource Key
1986-1987
13
3
Link Alignment Redesign
Archival Resource Key
1987
11
12
Link Alignment Redesign (notes)
Archival Resource Key
1987
11
Link Alignment Rewire
Archival Resource Key
1986
13
Link Switch (history)
Archival Resource Key
1985
11
MARK II A
Archival Resource Key
1987
11
Micro-Code Assembler Information
Archival Resource Key
1987
12
Opto Isolator
Archival Resource Key
1986
12
Queue Sequencer
Archival Resource Key
1985-1987
12
Relay Panel
Archival Resource Key
1986
12
Switch Processor (history file)
Archival Resource Key
undated
12
Switching Processor—TIP
Archival Resource Key
1988
12
Switching Processor
Archival Resource Key
undated
12
Release Forms (for hardware)
Archival Resource Key
1987
12
Test jigs and Displays
Archival Resource Key
1986
12
Software/Firmware
Series 7
Archival Resource Key
1987-1989
Call Processor Software Listing, Version C
Archival Resource Key
May 27, 1987
3
1-4
Call Processor Software Listing, Version C
Archival Resource Key
May 27, 1987
4
1-3
Burst-Switch Test Firmware
Archival Resource Key
Before 1987
5
1
Burst-Switch History/Firmware Listings,
Archival Resource Key
Before 1987
5
Burst Trunk Firmware
Archival Resource Key
December 1987
5
Burst Switch Firmware Normal Operatio
Archival Resource Key
November 1987
5
Call Processor Version 2.5, August 17
Archival Resource Key
1989 August 17
6
1-6
Call Processor Version 2.5, August 1
Archival Resource Key
1989 August 1
7
1-3
Datacon Wire Wrap Listings
Series 8
Archival Resource Key
1985-1987
HSE Reset Switch
Archival Resource Key
January 1985
8
1
Smart Processor I
Archival Resource Key
May 1985
8
Switch Processor
Archival Resource Key
September 1985
8
T1 Interface
Archival Resource Key
September 1985
8
Character Memory
Archival Resource Key
September 1985
8
Queue Sequence
Archival Resource Key
October 1985
8
Data Line Card
Archival Resource Key
January 1986
8
Analog Line/AL1-001
Archival Resource Key
January 1986
8
Analog Card Trunk
Archival Resource Key
February 1986
8
Analog Line/Al1-001
Archival Resource Key
March 1986
9
Switch Processor
Archival Resource Key
June 1986
9
Link Alignment Redesign Board Wrap File, August
Archival Resource Key
1987
9
Mark IIA, August
Archival Resource Key
1987
9
New Link Alignment Wrap, Revision A, September
Archival Resource Key
1987
9
Drawings
Series 9
Archival Resource Key
1984-1987
Originals Drawings
9.1
Archival Resource Key
1984-1987
Data line Card Common Circuits
Archival Resource Key
1985
1
Switching Processor, Sequencer, Microprogram, Prom and Pipeline Register
Archival Resource Key
1984
1
Mark IIA HSE
Archival Resource Key
1985
1
Call Processor
Archival Resource Key
1987
2
Analog Trunk Card
Archival Resource Key
1985-1986
2
Analog Line Card Circuit 0
Archival Resource Key
1985
2
Character Memory Board
Archival Resource Key
1984
3
Switching Processor—TIP, Sequencer, Microprogram, Prom and Pipeline Register
Archival Resource Key
1984
3
Switching Processor—HOP, Sequencer, Microprogram, Prom and Pipeline Register
Archival Resource Key
1984
3
Opto-Isolator Card Layout
Archival Resource Key
1987
4
Opto-Isolator Card
Archival Resource Key
1987
4
Link Alignment Redesign Board Layout
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
Queue Sequencer
Archival Resource Key
1984
4
Link Alignment Redesign
Archival Resource Key
1987
4
Copies of Drawings
9.2
Archival Resource Key
1984-1987
Call processor
Archival Resource Key
1987
5
Analog Line Card Circuit 0
Archival Resource Key
1985
5
Analog Trunk Card
Archival Resource Key
1985-1986
5
Data Line Card (Common Circuits)
Archival Resource Key
1985
5
Switching Processor, Sequencer, Microprogram, Prom and Pipeline Register
Archival Resource Key
1984
5
Mark IIA Link Switch
Archival Resource Key
1984-1985
6
Character Memory Timing
Archival Resource Key
1984-1985
6
Switching Processor Block Diagram
Archival Resource Key
1984-1985
6
Queue Sequencer Block Diagram
Archival Resource Key
1984-1985
6
Mark IIA Block Diagram
Archival Resource Key
1984-1985
6
Link Alignment Redesign Board Layout
Archival Resource Key
undated
6
Link Alignment Redesign Revision A
Archival Resource Key
1987
6
Queue Sequencer
Archival Resource Key
1984
6
Character Memory Board
Archival Resource Key
1984
6
Floppy Disks (Backup)
Series 10
Archival Resource Key
1987-1991
Burst Switch Assembler, Source, Object, Switching Processors and Debugger
Archival Resource Key
1987-1988
14
DebuggerZ80
Archival Resource Key
1989
14
LAB PC's
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
14
IP Back-up
Archival Resource Key
1991
14