Patent ID: 7738472

Claim:
A method of scheduling data using a switch that includes a plurality of input ports each having at least one input queue, a plurality of switch units, and a plurality of output ports, the method comprising: a) generating, by each input port having at least one queue storing data to be sent, a request to output data to each of the output ports to which data in the input port is to be sent, on a per queue basis, wherein the request includes one of the plurality of switch units for use in transferring data from the corresponding input port to the corresponding output port; b) granting access, per output port, per switch unit identified in step a), the granting being based on a first priority scheme; c) accepting grants per input port per switch unit identified in step a), the accepting being based on a second priority scheme; and d) outputting data from the respective input ports to the respective output ports, based on the accepted grants, utilizing the corresponding switch units identified in step a).