Patent ID: 7212525

Claim:
A packet communication system comprising: a first line interface; a second line interface connectable to a line with a speed lower than that of a line connected to the first line interface; a crossbar switch; and a scheduler that receives packet output requests from the first line interface and the second line interface periodically, and sends packet grants for the crossbar switch accordingly to the first and second line interfaces, wherein a link capacity between the first line interface and the crossbar switch is larger than a link capacity between the second line interface and the crossbar switch, and wherein the number of links forming the link capacity between the first line interface and the crossbar switch is greater than the number of links forming the link capacity between the second line interface and the crossbar switch, and wherein said scheduler controls said crossbar switch based on the relative link capacities between the first line interface and the crossbar switch and between the second line interface and the crossbar switch.