Patent ID: 7694023

Claim:
A method for routing a processor communication comprising: determining whether a communication received from a first processor connected via a first independent electrical communication path directly to an electrical network interface unit is intended for a second processor connected via a second independent electrical communication path directly to the electrical network interface unit, or a third processor; if the communication is intended for the second processor: selecting one communication route from at least two routes through which to route the communication from the electrical network interface unit to the second processor including: a first route to and from an optical switch via a number of optical communication paths directly between the optical switch and the electrical network interface unit and to the second processor via the second independent electrical communication path, and a second route, neither to nor from the optical switch, directly to the second processor via the second independent electrical communication path; and routing the communication from the electrical network interface unit to the second processor through the selected communication route; if the communication is intended for the third processor, determining whether a route from the first processor to the optical switch is available, and: if the route from the first processor to the optical switch is unavailable, determining whether a route from the second processor to the optical switch is available; and if the route from the second processor to the optical switch is available, routing the communication to the optical switch via the second processor, and then to the third processor.