| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus for forwarding variable-length packets between channe l- specific packet processor (82, 84, 86 and 88) and a crossbar (60) of a multiport switch involve segmenting variable-length packets (150) into fixed - length payload segments and multiplexing the payload segments with response or request data to form fixed-length switching blocks (160). The fixed-length switching blocks are transferred to and from the crossbar over respective input and output connections in order to minimize the number of connections between the packet processors and the crossbar. The input and output connections enable the transfer of a current packet through the crossbar whi le supplying the crossbar with request information necessary to schedule subsequent packets through the crossbar. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, packets are timed to pass through the crossbar one after another in order to utilize the maximum bandwidth of the crossbar.
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