Patent ID: 6034956
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for simultaneously attempting parallel path connections in a multi-stage interconnection network, the method comprising the steps of:providing a first stage including a plurality of first self-routing switches, selected ones of said first self-routing switches including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports;providing a second stage including a plurality of second self-routing switches, selected ones of said second self-routing switches including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports;connecting the output ports of said selected ones of said first self-routing switches in the first stage, to the input ports of said selected ones of said second self-routing switches of the second stage to form a plurality of first paths therebetween;providing a node connected between each of the network output ports and each of the network input ports, so that the switching network establishes direct connections between any of the network input ports and network output ports, each direct connection from one of the network input ports to one of the network output ports being comprised of an equal number of switch stages;making and breaking connection on a self-routing basis between the plurality of input ports and the plurality of output ports;holding the attempted connections between switches awaiting availability, utilizing a plurality of self-routing camp-on functionalities; and,attempting simultaneous parallel path connections over selected ones of the plurality of the first paths between certain output ports of said selected ones of said self-routing switches of the first stage and certain input ports of said selected ones of said second self-routing switches of the second stage.