Patent ID: 6611518
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A switching apparatus capable of selectively coupling M external devices to a communication network, said switching apparatus comprising:an NÃ—N output switching stage having N input interfaces and N output interfaces, wherein said N output interfaces are capable of being coupled to said communication network; a programmable MÃ—N input switching stage having M input ports and N output ports, wherein M is greater than N, and wherein each of said M input ports is capable of being coupled to one of said M external devices and each of said N output ports is coupled to one of said N input interfaces of said NÃ—N output switching stage; and a controller capable of controlling said programmable MÃ—N input switching stage such that each one of said M external devices may be selectively coupled and decoupled to one of said N input interfaces of said NÃ—N output switching stage according to a level of service associated with said each one of said M external devices.