Scalable scheduled cell switch and method for switching

摘要

A telecommunications switch. The switch includes a first output port mechanism through which sessions having cells are sent at a total session rate to a network. The switch includes a first input port mechanism through which sessions are received from the network. The first input port mechanism is connected to the first output port mechanism. The first input port mechanism has a first guaranteed session rate. The switch includes a second input port mechanism through which sessions are received from the network. The second input port mechanism is connected to the first output port mechanism. The second input port mechanism has a second guaranteed session rate, the sum of all guaranteed session rates are less than or equal to the total session rate. The switch includes a first scheduler connected to the first and second input port mechanisms and to the first output port mechanism for scheduling sessions of the input port mechanisms for service. The switch includes a server for providing service to sessions of the input port mechanisms. The server is connected to the first and second input port mechanisms and the first output port mechanism. A method for switching sessions having cells. The method includes the steps of receiving a first session having cells at a first input port mechanism of a switch. Then there is the step of storing the first session in a first input queue of the first input port mechanism. Next there is the step of receiving a second session at a second input port mechanism of the switch. Then there is the step of storing the second session in a second input queue of the second input port mechanism. Next there is the step of providing service from a server to the first session at a first guaranteed session rate. Then there is the step of transferring cells of the first session to a first output queue of a first output queue mechanism. Next there is the step of sending the cells of the first session out of the switch to a network with a first output card connected to the first output queue and the network. Then there is the step of providing service from the server to the second session at a second guaranteed session rate. Next there is the step of transferring cells of the second session to the first output queue. Then there is the step of sending the cells of the second session of the switch to the network. <IMAGE>