Patent ID: 7362751

Claim:
An apparatus for switching variable length data packets between input and output transmission paths in a communication network, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of input ports coupled to receive the plurality of variable length data packets from the input transmission paths; a plurality of output ports coupled to transmit the plurality of variable length data packets on the output transmission paths; a variable length switch fabric coupled to the plurality of input ports and the plurality of output ports, the variable length switch fabric operates to switch the plurality of variable length data packets from selected input ports to selected output ports in an unsegmented form; wherein the variable length switch fabric includes: a storage means coupled between the plurality of input ports and the plurality of output ports, a plurality of input first in first out (FIFO) devices coupled to the plurality of input ports, a plurality of output FIFO devices coupled to the plurality of output ports, an input crossbar switch coupled to the plurality of input FIFO devices, and an output crossbar switch coupled to the plurality of output FIFO devices.