Abstract: A method of controlling a network (115) through which information is transmitted in channels (?1, ?2, . . . ?n) among nodes includes: (a) providing at a node a device (108) for removing from the network (115) and replacing on the network (115) a selected one (?i) of the channels, the device (108) including a first input port from the network (115) to the node and a first output port from the node to the network (115); (b) taking a measure of the strength (P?iDROP) of the received channel (?iDROP); (c) regenerating the channel (?iIN); (d) adjusting (114) the strength (P?iADD) of the regenerated channel (?iIN) to approximate the strengths of the remaining channels ((?1, ?2, . . . ?n)-?i; and (e) combining the regenerated and strength-adjusted channel (?iADD) with the remaining channels ((?1, ?2, . . . ?n)-?i) at the output port.

Abstract: A method of controlling a network (115) through which information is transmitted in channels (&lgr;1 , &lgr;2 , . . . &lgr;n) among nodes includes: (a) providing at a node a device (108) for removing from the network (115) and replacing on the network (115) a selected one (&lgr;i) of the channels, the device (108) including a first input port from the network (115) to the node and a first output port from the node to the network (115); (b) taking a measure of the strength (P&lgr;iDROP) of the received channel (&lgr;iDROP); (c) regenerating the channel (&lgr;iIN); (d) adjusting (114) the strength (P&lgr;iADD) of the regenerated channel (&lgr;iIN) to approximate the strengths of the remaining channels ((&lgr;1, &lgr;2, . . . &lgr;n)-&lgr;i; and (e) combining the regenerated and strength-adjusted channel (&lgr;iADD) with the remaining channels ((&lgr;1, &lgr;2, . . . &lgr;n)-&lgr;i) at the output port.

Abstract: A distributed, scalable and modular asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching fabric is disclosed. The switching fabric includes port interface modules for connecting physical devices to the switch fabric. The switch fabric is arranged as rows of input buses running horizontally and columns of output buses running vertically. A junction module is located at each intersection of input and output buses. A switch can be constructed having any integer number M input and output buses, each input and output bus having an associated port interface module. The switching fabric for the specific case of M=2 is presented. Junction modules buffer and store cells received from the input buses and subsequently output cells onto the output buses. A junction module only accepts cells destined for one of the two output buses connected to itself. One output module is connected to each junction module situated with the same fabric column. Output modules instruct the junction modules when to store and output a cell.