circuit switching

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

circuit switching
circuit switch
circuit switched

   <communications> Communication via a single dedicated path
   between the sender and receiver.  The telephone system is an
   example of a circuit switched network.

   The term {connection-oriented} is used in {packet}-based
   networks in contrast to {connectionless} communication or
   {packet switching}.

   (2006-09-20)