| 摘要 |
The switching element (16) comprises a plurality of selectors (32) each having an input for a tagged packet signal and a plurality of arbiters (34) each having an output for a transmitted packet signal. Between each selector (32) and each arbiter (34) is a signal path connection. Each arbiter (34) selects the first received packet signal and prohibits transmission from all other selectors by assertion of a busy signal until transmission of the first received packet signal is completed. An asynchronous time switch having a switching fabric made up of such elements (16) copes with the maximum delay requirements of voice class signals by priority of selection over other classes of signals. Increased throughput is attained by means of multiple switch fabric planes and by use of flooding. The latter technique involves sending copies of a packet signal along all possible paths to a desired output, all but one copy failing at arbiters (34) within the switch plane fabric or at a switch plane arbiter (24). |
