Self-arbitrating crossbar switch

摘要

A self-arbitrating and self-routing ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) switch has a switching fabric (10) consisting of rows (15) and columns (16) of logic groups (18). The rows (15) of logic groups have addressing logic for routing data packets received at input ports (6) to the columns (16) of logic groups. Arbitration logic in each of the columns (16) of logic groups route data packets received from the addressing logic to their specified output ports (8). The arbitration logic forming each column (16) of logic groups resolves conflicts between data packets contending for an identical output port (8). Additional logic in each column (16) of logic groups signals input ports (6) when data packets are successfully received by their specified output ports (8) . Data packets which lose arbitration during a switch cycle are assigned a higher priority and retransmitted to the switching fabric (10) during the next switch cycle. <IMAGE>