Patent ID: 8804709

Claim:
A method performed by a switch that includes a plurality of different planes, the method comprising: receiving, by a first crossbar, data including destination information, the data being received from a source device, and the first crossbar being located in a first plane of the plurality of different planes, the first plane including a second crossbar and a third crossbar, and each of the plurality of different planes including: at least one other first crossbar, at least one other second crossbar, and at least one other third crossbar; transmitting, by the first crossbar, the data to the second crossbar without using the destination information; receiving, by the second crossbar, the data; transmitting, by the second crossbar and based on the destination information, the data to the third crossbar; receiving, by the third crossbar, the data; and transmitting, by the third crossbar and based on the destination information, the data toward a destination device; receiving, by the first crossbar, the second crossbar, and the third crossbar, grant information from the destination device; and transmitting, by the first crossbar, the second crossbar, and the third crossbar, the grant information to the source device, the grant information being transmitted to the source device using the first plane.