Patent ID: 7342889
Filing Date: 2008-03-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A means for switching data, the means comprising: a data bus, a plurality of devices configured to exchange data with each other via the data bus, each device being configured to receive data from and transmit data to at least one corresponding I/O port, at least one first device being configured to receive data from and transmit data to a plurality of corresponding I/O ports, arbiter means for determining an order of exchanging, on the data bus, of data between the devices, the devices being configured to: the arbiter being configured to: wherein a device is configured to determine congestion at a corresponding I/O port and to transmit corresponding information to the arbiter, and wherein the arbiter is configured to override any congestion or non-availability of a receiving device or I/O port when a congested I/O port wishes to transmit data thereto, and inform the pertaining device that the congested I/O port is allowed to transmit data.