Patent ID: 6088352
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
An apparatus for selecting a set of a plurality of first units to switch data streams being received by a plurality of second units each connected to an individual one of a plurality of external links, comprising:each of the plurality of second units responsive to a data stream from a connected one of the plurality of external links for separating the data stream from the connected one of the plurality of external links into an individual data stream for each individual bit position and for determining an individual one of a set of the plurality of first units for each individual bit position;each of the plurality of second units further responsive to the data stream from the connected one of the plurality of external links for communicating each data stream of each individual bit position to the determined one of the set of the plurality of first units for each individual bit position;each of the plurality of first units responsive to the data streams of the individual bit position for switching the data streams of the individual bit position and communicating a group of switched data to one of the plurality of second units; andeach of the plurality of second units responsive to all of the groups of switched data of the individual bit positions received from all ones of first units for assembling the groups of switched data of the individual bit positions into correct individual bit positions for transmission as an assembled group of data on the connected one of the plurality of external links.