Switch for multiservice network, has system control module having memory to store routing table with list of destination addresses reachable by interface modules and its all known routes

摘要

Interface modules (10) have processor and memory to store a forwarding table with a list of destination addresses and associated known best route. System control module (14) has a memory to store routing table with a list of destination addresses reachable by interface modules and its all known routes. Routing table is referenced if the particular destination address is not found in the forwarding table. Buses (16,18,20) interconnect the interface modules and the system control module for transferring blocks of data to the particular destination address. An independent claim is also included for method of forwarding data blocks to destination address.