Patent ID: 7245641
Filing Date: 2007-07-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A variable length packet switching system, comprising: at least two switching means for switching ATM cells or variable length packet data in parallel; a plurality of multiplexing means arranged upstream of said switching means for multiplexing data inputted from a line card to said switching means in packet units and dividing a packet into packets of a number corresponding to the number of said switching means, the multiplexing means further comprising input-write means for converting 8-bit input data, which is inputted from said line card to said switching means, into double or quadruple bit width data and storing the data, FIFOs corresponding to ports for storing the input data expanded by the input-write means, input-read means respectively provided to two or four FIFOs for reading a corresponding FIFO if the FIFO has input data, and, at the same time, arranging and outputting control information extracted from a front portion of a packet while observing said FIFOs, input formatting/parallel division means for dividing the data from said input-read means into portions to be transferred into each of said switching means according to bit positions, inserting overheads into the data by using routing information, priority information and beginning-point-of-packet information, and transferring the data to said switching means, wherein said input-read means does not read the FIFOs for a corresponding clock at positions where the overheads will be inserted by said input formatting/parallel division means as the data read from said FIFOs is transferred into said input formatting/parallel division means, whereby the data at the corresponding positions is transferred as an invalid value; and a plurality of demultiplexing means arranged downstream of said switching means for combining packets inputted after being switched in parallel by said at least two switching means and outputting the combined packet converted into a format adequate to said line card.