DEMAND ASSIGNMENT

An operation in which several users share access to a communications channel on a real-time basis, i.e. , a user needing to communicate with another user on the same network requests the required circuit , uses it, and when the call is finished, the circuit is released, making the circuit available to other users. Note: Demand assignment is similar to conventional telephone switching , in which common trunks are provided for many users, on a demand basis, through a limited-size trunk group . ( 188 )