Abstract: Arbitration apparatus and method coordinate access to an output of a routing device in a packet switching network. Access to the output is granted to requests having the highest priority in a current arbitration cycle. For requests having the same priority, access is granted to the first of such requests received. Before granting a request, the arbitration apparatus ensures a receiving input buffer has sufficient space for a data packet, as well as any higher priority traffic.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring data between clock domains operating at substantially the same frequency continuously compares the relationship between a delayed data phase signal driven by a non-delayed source domain clock and a data phase signal sampled by a delayed receiving domain clock. The result of the comparison determines along which one of multiple data paths within the synchronizing circuit the transfer of the data frame will take place. Several data paths with different delays (at least two) transfer the data frame and clock signals. An XNOR comparator responds to the relationship between a delayed data phase signal driven by a non-delayed source domain clock and a data phase signal sampled by a delayed receiving domain clock to determine which one of the multiple data paths transfers the data frame.