A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SWITCHING SIGNALS USING AN EMBEDDED GROUP SIGNAL STATUS

摘要

A simple, elementary switch fabric is provided for switching individual signals as a composite group based on goup signal status that is embedded and carried within each of the individual signals in the goup. In general, a group signal status is derived for a group based on the signal status of each of the individual signals within that group. This group signal status is then individually encoded and embedded in each of the individual signals in the goup. The embedded group signal status can be extracted and decoded at any point within the transmission path, as necessary, to facilitate appropriate switching decisions. Although each individual signal is switched independently by the elementary switch fabric, the individual signals are effectively switched as a composite goup because the switching decision for each individual signal in the group is based on the same group signal status. That is, individual signals in a particular goup will either be selected or rejected together as a single, composite group.