Patent ID: 8005092
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method performed by a switching system, the method comprising: receiving, by a switch scheduler of the switching system, a first set of packet forwarding requests identifying input port/output port combinations for each of a number of packets; identifying, by the switch scheduler, a first service pattern in a matrix of scheduling modules for scheduling packet forwarding for a first future time slot, where the first service pattern provides for scheduling of packets designating groups of input port/output port combinations that do not conflict with each other; determining, by the switch scheduler, for the groups of input port/output port combinations in the first service pattern, the input port/output port combinations for which packet forwarding requests are received; scheduling, by the switch scheduler, packet forwarding for the determined input port/output port combinations for which packet forwarding requests are received; updating, by the switch scheduler, reservation information associated with the groups of input port/output port combinations in the first service pattern to reflect the scheduling; and transferring, by the switch scheduler, the updated reservation information to scheduling modules in a second service pattern in the matrix of scheduling modules for scheduling packet forwarding for a second future time slot, where the second service pattern provides for scheduling of packets designating additional groups of input port/output port combinations that do not conflict with each other.