Abstract: A switching apparatus including a switch element, a message controller separate from the switch element, a plurality of input units, and a plurality of output units. The plurality of input units are configured to provide packets to the switch element and provide, to the message controller, messages corresponding to respective ones of the packets. The plurality of output units are configured to receive, from the message controller, the messages, and receive, from the switch element, the packets to be output from the switching apparatus. The switch element is configured to transfer each of the packets between the input units and the output units. The message controller is configured to transfer each of the messages corresponding to the respective ones of the packets between the input units and the output units.

Abstract: A system and method of transferring packets/cells and messages within a switching apparatus that includes a plurality of input units, a packet/cell switch element, a message controller, and a plurality of output units. It is identified as to whether or not an item to be transferred from one of the input units or output units to another of the input units or output units is a message or a packet/cell. If the item to be transferred is a packet/cell, the packet/cell is transferred from one of the input units to one of the output units using links dedicated for packet/cell transfer and a packet/cell switch element. If the item to be transferred is a message, the message is transferred from one of the input units or output units to another of the input units or output units using links dedicated for message transfer and a message controller.

Abstract: A system and method of switching data using a switch device that includes a plurality of input ports, a plurality of switch units, and a plurality of output ports. Each input port storing data to be sent may generate a request to output data to each of the output ports to which stored data is to be sent, wherein each request identifies a specific one of the plurality of switch units to be used to transfer the data from the corresponding input port to the corresponding output port. Grants may be generated per output port per switch unit. Grants may be accepted per input port per switch unit. Data may be outputted from the respective input ports to the respective output ports, based on the accepted grants, utilizing the switch units identified in the requests corresponding to the accepted grants.

Abstract: A system and method of switching data using a switch device that includes a plurality of input ports, a plurality of switch units, and a plurality of output ports. Each input port storing data to be sent may generate a request to output data to each of the output ports to which stored data is to be sent, wherein each request identifies a specific one of the plurality of switch units to be used to transfer the data from the corresponding input port to the corresponding output port. Grants may be generated per output port per switch unit. Grants may be accepted per input port per switch unit. Data may be outputted from the respective input ports to the respective output ports, based on the accepted grants, utilizing the switch units identified in the requests corresponding to the accepted grants.

Abstract: A network switching system includes transceiver devices respectively provided for a plurality of input line cards. The switching system also includes transceiver devices respective provided for a plurality of output line cards. The switching system further includes a switch device communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of input line cards and the plurality of output line cards. The switch device includes a crosspoint matrix for communicatively connecting one of the input line cards to one of the output line cards. The switch device is capable of operating in either a crosspoint mode for routing cells or packets from one of the input line cards to one of the output line cards, or a scheduler mode for controlling flow of cells and/or packets through at least one other switch device.

Abstract: A system and method of scheduling packets or cells for a switch device that includes a plurality of input ports each having at least one input queue, a plurality of switch units, and a plurality of output ports. There is generated, by each input port having a packet or cell in its at least one queue, a request to output the corresponding packet or cell to each of the output ports to which a corresponding packet or cell is to be sent to, wherein the request includes a specific one of the plurality of switch units to be used in a transfer of the packet or cell from the corresponding input port to the corresponding output port. Access is granted, per output port per switch unit, to the request made on a first priority scheme. Grants are accepted per input port per switch unit, the accepting being based on a second priority scheme.

Abstract: A system and method of switching packets and/or cells, which includes a switching apparatus having a plurality of input units that receive at least one packet to be transferred by the switching apparatus. A plurality of output units transfer the packet out of the switching apparatus. A switch unit transfers the packet from one of the input units to one of the output units. Each input unit includes at least one input queue that temporarily holds the packet to be transferred by the switching apparatus. Each input unit also includes a respective unicast credit count unit that allows the packet to be transferred out from the queue when a current unicast credit value determined by the unicast credit count unit is at least predetermined value. Each output unit includes at least one output queue that receives the packet as switched by the switch unit, and which is to be transferred out of the switching apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method of scheduling packets or cells for a switch device that includes a plurality of input ports each having at least one input queue, a plurality of switch units, and a plurality of output ports. There is generated, by each input port having a packet or cell in its at least one queue, a request to output the corresponding packet or cell to each of the output ports to which a corresponding packet or cell is to be sent to, wherein the request includes a specific one of the plurality of switch units to be used in a transfer of the packet or cell from the corresponding input port to the corresponding output port. Access is granted, per output port per switch unit, to the request made on a first priority scheme. Grants are accepted per input port per switch unit, the accepting being based on a second priority scheme.

Abstract: A system and method of scheduling packets or cells for a switch device that includes a plurality of input ports each having at least one input queue, a plurality of switch units, and a plurality of output ports. There is generated, by each input port having a packet or cell in its at least one queue, a request to output the corresponding packet or cell to each of the output ports to which a corresponding packet or cell is to be sent to, wherein the request includes a specific one of the plurality of switch units to be used in a transfer of the packet or cell from the corresponding input port to the corresponding output port, the specific one of the plurality of switch units being selected according to a first priority scheme. Access is granted, per output port per switch unit, to the request made, the granting being based on a second priority scheme. Grants are accepted per input port per switch unit, the accepting being based on a third priority scheme.