Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one more embodiment of the invention, an integrated circuit includes: a switch adapted to receive a packet of binary digital signals as encoded binary digital signals including encoded binary digital signals used to route the packet through the network. The switch is further adapted to copy the encoded binary digital signals used to route the packet through the network, at least for decoding the encoded binary digital signals. Briefly, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, an integrated circuit includes: a switch adapted to receive a packet of binary digital signals, the packet of binary digital signals including encoded binary digital signals specifying a route through a network without decoding.

Abstract: A scalable bandwidth switch is formed from a smart data crossbar and a plurality of simple data crossbars in parallel. A data block that is inputted into the switch contains a header portion and a payload portion. The data block is multiplexed so that the entire header portion is inputted to a port in the smart data crossbar. The smart data crossbar determines the destination of the data block from the header portion, and transmits this information on a control line. The payload portion is inputted to the port in the smart data crossbar, and ports in the plurality of simple crossbars depending on the bandwidth desired. The control line is coupled to the simple data crossbars and configures the simple data crossbars using the port destination information generated by the smart data crossbar.