| 摘要 |
<p>A switching network having a sorting network (42) followed by a plurality of routing networks (43,44) for routing data packets from a plurality of inputs to a plurality of outputs includes a reservation ring mechanism (46) for resolving conflicts among inputs contending for access to specified ones of said outputs. This reservation ring mechanism (46) comprises means (76,78) for performing a sequence of step and compare operations in top-to-bottom ring-like order during at least one arbitration cycle for granting contending inputs access to said specified outputs in top-to-bottom order, with a maximum permissible plural number of contenders being given access to such an output on each of said arbitration cycles whenever there still are at least said that number of contenders in contention for that particular output. <IMAGE></p> |
