Patent ID: 7277429

Claim:
A switch fabric implemented on a chip, comprising: a) an array of cells; b) an I/O interface in communication with said array of cells for permitting exchange of data packets between said array of cells and components external to said array of cells; c) each cell communicating with a plurality of other cells of said array permitting exchange of data packets between the cells of said array; d) each cell including: I) a memory for receiving a data packet from another cell of said array; II) a control entity to control release of a data packet toward a selected destination cell from among the plurality of other cells of said array at least in part on a basis of a degree of occupancy of the memory in said destination cell; III) a transmitter in communication with said I/O interface and in direct communication with every cell from among the plurality of other cells of said array, said transmitter operative to process a data packet received from said I/O interface to determine a destination of the data packet and forward the data packet to at least one cell from among the plurality of other cells of said array selected on a basis of the determined destination; IV) a plurality of receivers associated with respective cells from said array, each receiver being in direct communication with a respective cell allowing the respective cell to forward data packets to the receiver; said receivers in communication with said I/O interface for releasing data packets to said I/O interface.