Abstract: A controller on a card in a personal computer or set top box controls routing of multiple audio or video signals to multiple outputs concurrently. Also provided is the ability for the user to configure the controller via software or hardware controls, such as a multi-position switch located on the external surface of the computer hardware. Multiple different formats of video and audio are properly converted and routed.

Abstract: A ring-ordered dynamically reconfigurable computer network utilizing an existing communications system. The network comprises a plurality of nodes. Each node is coupled to the existing communications system by two data channels and a control channel. The network is established by each data channel of each node connecting operably to a data channel of another node. All the nodes are ordered in a ring. The control channel of each node is operably connected to the switch of the existing communications system. The network also comprises a network manager to establish the network, facilitate communication among the nodes, and dynamically reconfigure the network without disturbing communication among the nodes. Optionally, each node connects to the network only when it actually needs to communicate with another node.