Patent ID: 8139490

Claim:
A method of routing packets in a computer network to avoid deadlock, the method comprising: assigning a distinct identifier to each switch in the computer network, the distinct identifier being unique to each respective switch; setting a turn rule for routing packets across the computer network so that deadlock is avoided, the turn rule prohibiting sending packets from a first switch (A) to a second switch (C) via an intermediate switch (B) given a selected condition, the condition being selected from the group consisting of: the distinct identifier of intermediate switch B has a value greater than the values of the distinct identifiers of both first switch A and second switch C, or the distinct identifier of intermediate switch B has a value less than the values of the distinct identifiers of both first switch A and second switch C; providing the turn rule to each switch in the computer network; and routing the packets across the computer network according to the turn rule, wherein the selected condition is maintained for subsequent packet routing.