Patent ID: 7263097
Filing Date: 2007-08-28
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
1. A Programmably-Sliceable Switch-fabric Unit (PSSU) having a capability of functioning as an N×N′ crossbar, and also having a capability of being programmably sliced to instead function as a plurality of S×S′ virtual switch slices, where S<N and S′<N′, wherein N does not have to equal N′, and S does not have to equal S′, said PSSU comprising: (a) absolute Ingress ports (aI's) and absolute Egress ports (aE's) that are alternatively identifiable as Relative ingress ports (Ri's) and Relative egress ports (Re's) of respective ones of said virtual switch slices; where the aI's can receive routing requests and payloads that are to be routed, and where the aE's can output routed payloads to corresponding destinations; and (b) a request translator, operatively coupled to the aI's for receiving routing requests from the aI's, said request translator having: