Patent ID: 7668970

Claim:
An integrated circuit device for implementation in computing node of a massively parallel computing system comprising a plurality of computing nodes configured in m multi-dimensions, said integrated circuit device comprising: one or more computing devices; and, a virtual cut through network switch, operably connected with each said one or more computing devices for dynamically routing packets towards their destination nodes, said virtual cut through network switch comprising: a) at least one input unit for inputting said packets from at least one of 2 m directions via at least one of a corresponding number of input links into a corresponding at least one of a plurality of virtual channels, each said packet comprising a packet header including one or more packet hint bits for indicating which of said 2 m directions are feasible for each of said packets to move in; b) at least one input link for inputting local packets from a local of said nodes to at least one of a plurality of processor injection FIFO's; c) an output status bit vector generator for generating a 2 m plurality of output status bit vectors, each of said output status bit vectors describing the availability of each said destination node's link, the availability of downstream dynamic virtual channels, and a downstream buffer space indication for all virtual channels associated with a downstream buffer space's direction; d) an input arbiter and an output arbiter for establishing a general arbitration policy wherein arbitration decisions are made based on a content of said 2 m plurality of output status bit vectors; e) at least one output link for outputting according to said general arbitration policy said packets via at least one transfer path to corresponding output links, wherein said packets are advanced towards said destination nodes, wherein said network switch for routing packets using hint bits from packet headers of said packets allows establishing said general arbitration policy to complete more quickly.