Patent ID: 7505457

Claim:
A crossbar switch for permitting communication between a multiplicity of devices, comprising: an input interface coupled to outputs of each of a group of devices and operable to select first data output from a first device selected from said group of devices; an output interface coupled to inputs of each of said group of devices and operable to output the first data to a second device selected from said group of devices; a switch fabric coupled to the input interface for receiving the first data and coupled to the output interface for outputting the first data, the switch fabric including an m×n array of switch elements, m and n each being greater than or equal to two, each said switch element having a plurality of input ports operable to receive at least one bit per cycle, and a plurality of output ports operable to output at least one bit per cycle, such that said array is operable to transfer the first data between said input interface and said output interface in units of said at least one bit per cycle.