Abstract: A network switch routes switch packets among nodes with input and output ports. The nodes are connected together in a loop by two buses. One bus sends packets in a clockwise direction around the loop of nodes, while the other bus sends packets in a counter-clockwise direction around the loop. Each bus is divided into links between adjacent nodes, which examine and forward the packets to the next node in the loop. A packet is duplicated and injected onto both buses from a source node, reaching half of the nodes in one direction, and the other nodes in the opposite direction. A distance value in the packet header is set to half of the number of nodes so that the packet is removed after traveling half-way around the loop. A bit-mask in the header indicates nodes to receive the packet, or source-monitoring can remove packets half-way around the loop.

Abstract: A hybrid data parallel/serial data transfer system with phase adjustment and symbol coding for switching digital data packets in order to facilitate massive high speed, high capacity transfer of information with a limited number of signal lines. The transfer of information is processed over cross-bar networks. Much higher data transfer speed is possible than in a conventional serial data transfer. Moreover, the bits or Tera bits can be transferred easily over long distances. Data is transmitted over a communication link or trunk consisting of one of more cross-bar networks. Each message is transmitted as a sequence of groups of data bits, the bits in each group are transmitted in parallel over the trunk wherein each line or path carries a signal and each message is preceded by a serial start pattern. The receiver comprises a plurality of decoders for receiving data signals from the trunk. The arrangement overcomes the problem of data skew due to different transmission times over the lines of the trunk.

Abstract: A hybrid data parallel/serial data transfer system with phase adjustment and symbol coding for switching digital data packets in order to facilitate massive high speed transfer of information with a limited number of signal lines. Much higher data transfer is possible than in a conventional serial data transfer. Multi-giga bits or Tera bits can be transferred easily over a long distance using this invention. Data transmission apparatus is described in which data is transmitted over a communication link or trunk consisting of a plurality of lines. Each message is transmitted as a sequence of groups of data bits, the bits in each group being transmitted in parallel over the trunk. Each line or path carries a signal and each message is preceded by a serial start pattern. The receiver comprises a plurality of decoders for receiving data signals from the trunk. These signals are fed to a separate buffer. The contents of the buffer are then read out in parallel.