Patent ID: 7016305
Filing Date: 2006-03-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A packet switch, comprising: a plurality of input/output interfaces: a benes switching fabric including a plurality of first stage switching elements, a plurality of second stage switching elements, and a plurality of third stage switching elements communicatively coupled via a plurality of paths according to a benes topology; wherein each first stage switching element of the plurality of first stage switching elements includes a flow control storage mechanism for storing received flow control information extracted from information received from the corresponding input/output interfaces of said input/output interfaces to which said first stage switching element is coupled, and control logic for receiving said information, extracting said received flow control information from said information, and for updating the storage mechanism with said received flow control information; wherein each of the first stage switching elements is configured to repeatedly sequence through said flow control information currently stored in the storage mechanism and to send a portion of said flow control information stored at a current location within said flow control information over one of said paths to a predetermined one of the plurality of second stage switching elements, such that each of the first stage switching elements is configured to said send said flow control information to a different one of the plurality of second stage switching elements; wherein each of the plurality of second stage switching elements is configured to receive and forward said portions of flow control information to each of the plurality of third stage switching elements; and wherein each of the plurality of third stage switching elements are configured to send said portions of flow control information to each of the plurality of input/output interfaces for performing flow control operations in response to said flow control information.