Network interconnect crosspoint switching architecture and method

摘要

A network switching system includes transceiver devices respectively provided for a plurality of input line cards. The switching system also includes transceiver devices respective provided for a plurality of output line cards. The switching system further includes a switch device communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of input line cards and the plurality of output line cards. The switch device includes a crosspoint matrix for communicatively connecting one of the input line cards to one of the output line cards. The switch device is capable of operating in either a crosspoint mode for routing cells or packets from one of the input line cards to one of the output line cards, or a scheduler mode for controlling flow of cells and/or packets through at least one other switch device.