Patent ID: 6691202
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
In using with a switching system having m ports with each of the ports being coupled to a local area network via a Hub, the connectivity between the inputs and outputs of the m ports forming a matrix of cross points having m rows and m columns, each port having a transmit line being coupled to a row of the matrix and a receive line being coupled to a column of the matrix, a transmission operation from a source port (i) to a destination port (j) involving a first control circuit for unilaterally connecting the port (i) to the port (j) and a second control circuit for unilaterally connecting the port (j) to the port (i), a method for communicating from the source port (i) to the destination port (j) comprising the steps of:a) sending address information from the port (i) to a third control circuit; b) providing a column control bus that couples the third control circuit to a plurality of control circuits including the second control circuit, each of the plurality of control circuits operable to control the operation of a cross point; c) routing the address information from the third control circuit to all of the plurality of control circuits including the second control circuit through the column control bus; and d) responsive to receiving the address information at the second control circuit, making a unilateral path connection at a return path cross point from the destination port 6) to the source port (i).