Patent ID: 7519066

Claim:
A method for switching data in a crossbar data switch, said method comprising: receiving a plurality of cells at a merged input queue of said crossbar data switch, wherein a cell of said plurality of cells is characterized by a priority and a destination; assigning an age tag to at least some of said cells at said merged input queue of said crossbar data switch, wherein said age tag indicates the relative length of time a cell of said plurality of cells has been in said merged input queue as compared to other cells of said plurality of cells; selecting a portion of said plurality of cells according to a priority selection; determining whether any cells of said portion have the same said destination; transmitting at least one connection request associated with cells of said portion, wherein cells having the same said destination are transmitted according to said age tag; and provided a plurality of said connection requests are granted, selecting one said connection request of said plurality of granted connection requests.