Abstract: A system for cascading data switches in a communication node allows for transfer of data among a plurality of adapters (30-i), expanding a moderate low cost switch 31-1 with additional hardware (31-2, 31-3, 31-4) to interconnect more adapters. The data transfers are performed by a plurality of Burst Relaying Cascaders (32-i) which connect the plurality of switches (31-i). A similar interface connect each adapter to the switch. A set of address information is used by the system to route the data from the source adapter to the target adapter, allowing navigation among the intermediate switches. Each interface contains a table where the address of every adapter of the whole system could be constructed dynamically at each communication node configuration.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 7, 1994
Date of Patent:
September 17, 1996
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Jean Calvignac, Pierre Huon, Daniel Orsatti, Gilles Toubol, Fabrice Verplanken