Patent ID: 7983253

Claim:
A multi-stage interconnect network (MIN) switch, comprising: a first switch having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs with first segments therebetween; a plurality of second switches each having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs with second segments therebetween, at least some of said second switch inputs coupled to one of the first switch outputs; a third switch having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs with third segments therebetween, at least some of said third switch inputs coupled to one of the plurality of second switch outputs; and a node configured to control each of the first switch segments, the second switch segments and the third switch segments to establish a first path from a selected one of the first switch inputs to a selected one of the third switch outputs, the node configured to provide carrier sensing and establish alternative path routing on a segment-by-segment basis, wherein the node is configured to establish a selected said first switch segment, establish a selected said second switch segment, and responsively establish a selected said third switch segment as a function of whether a carrier is present at the selected third switch output associated with the selected third switch segment.