Patent ID: 7221677

Claim:
An interconnect structure comprising: a plurality of interconnected nodes including a first node having first and second input ports and first and second output ports; all output ports accessible from the first input port being accessible from the second output port; a plurality of output ports that are accessible from the second input port but not from the first output port; and a routing logic included within the interconnect structure to assure that when a second message arrives at the first input port and simultaneously a first message arrives at the second input port there is a path through the second output port to a target destination for the first message; wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is adapted to simultaneously receive a plurality of messages; wherein said routing logic assures that the first message is not blocked from using the first output port and the second message is not blocked from using the second output port; and wherein said routing logic for the routing of the first and second messages depends in part on QOS criteria.