Final answer:
Circuit switching is characterized by having resources dedicated for a connection, using methods such as FDM and TDM, and was historically used in telephone systems. Congestion and variable delays are not typically issues in circuit-switched networks because of the dedicated channels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technique of circuit switching is associated with several distinctive characteristics:
- Resources needed for an atomic source-destination path means that a dedicated communication channel is established for the duration of the connection between the source and the destination.
- Congestion, loss, and variable end-to-end delays are not typically associated with circuit switching, because once the circuit is established, resources are reserved and delays are consistent.
- This technique was indeed used for telephone switching throughout the 20th century and into the early part of the current century, before the widespread adoption of packet-switched networks.
- Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) and Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) are methods used within circuit-switched networks to maximize the efficiency of the dedicated channels.
Therefore, the correct responses from the provided options would be B, E, and F. Data being queued before transmission is typically associated with packet switching, not circuit switching. Also, resources are dedicated during a circuit-switched connection, rather than being used on demand and retaining unused resources.