Self-routing multistage switching network for fast packet switching system

Claim 2

A self-routing multistage switching network for a fast packet switching system for transmitting a plurality of packets applied to a plurality of input ports to a plurality of output ports, comprising: (a) packet buffer means (b) a self-routing multistage switching means characterized in that (c) said packet buffer means is capable of storing packets, provided only in an input stage, and respectively connected to the input ports; and (d) said self-routing multistage switching means comprises a switching network connected to the output terminals of the packate buffer means, and has no packet storing function, and is capable of self-routing on the destination information of the packets.

Claim 3

A self-routing multistage switching network for a fast packet switching system for transmitting a plurality of packets applied to a plurality of input ports to a plurality of output ports, comprising: (a) packet buffer means (b) a self-routing multistage switching means (c) a detecting means (d) a reporting means (e) a control means characterized in that (f) said packet buffer means is capable of storing packets, provided only in an input stage, and respectively connected to the input ports; (g) said self-routing multistage switching means comprises a switching network connected to the output terminals of the packet buffer means, and has no packet storing function, and comprises a plurality of unit switches capable of self-routing control; (h) said detecting means detects beforehand whether or not the packets applied to the self-routing multistage switching means are transmitted through the self-routing multistage switching means without being discarded; (i) said reporting means reports identification information for identifying a packet which can be transmitted instead of being discarded backward to the packet buffer means through the same transmission route of the self-routing multistage switching means through which the packet has been transmitted; and (j) said control means deletes a packet identified by the identification information given to the packet buffer means by the reporting means from a storage means of the packet buffer means after the completion of sending out the same packet.

Claim 4

A self-routing multistage switching network for a fast packet switching system for transmitting a plurality of packets applied to a plurality of input ports to a plurality of output ports, comprising: (a) packet buffer means (b) a self-routing multistage switching means (c) a detecting means (d) a reporting means (e) a control means characterized in that (f) said packet buffer means is capable of storing packets, provided only in an input stage, and respectively connected to the input ports; (g) said self-routing multistage switching means comprises a switching network connected to the output terminals of the packet buffer means, and has no packet storing function, and comprises a plurality of unit switches capable of self-routing control; (h) said detecting means detects beforehand whether or not the packets applied to the self-routing multistage switching means are transmitted through the self-routing multistage switching means without being discarded; (i) said reporting means reports identification information for identifying a packet which can be transmitted instead of being discarded backward to the packet buffer means through the same transmission route of the self-routing multistage switching means through which the packet has been transmitted; and (j) said control means deletes a packet identified by the identification information given to the packet buffer means by the reporting means from a storage means of the packet buffer means after the completion of sending out the same packet.

Claim 5

A self-routing multistage switching network for a fast packet switching system for transmitting a plurality of packets applied to a plurality of input ports to a plurality of output ports: characterized in that said self-routing multistage switching network further comprising; (a) packet buffer means capable of storing packets, provided only in an input stage, and respectively connected to the input ports; (b) a first sorting network means comprising a plurality of unit switches with comparing and reporting functions, and respectively connected to the output terminals of the packet buffer means; (c) a discarding network means connected to the output terminals of the first sorting network means, for selecting only one packet among a plurality of packets contending for the same output port and discarding the rest of the plurality of packets; (d) a second sorting network means having input terminals connected to the output terminals of the discarding network means, and comprising a plurality of unit switches with a comparing function; and (e) a routing network means having input terminals connected to the second sorting network means, and comprising a plurality of unit switches with a selecting function.

Claim 6

A self-routing multistage switching network for a fast packet switching system for transmitting a plurality of packets applied to a plurality of input ports to a plurality of output ports: characterized in that said self-routing multistage switching network further comprising; (a) packet buffer means capable of storing packets, provided only in an input stage, and respectively connected to the input ports; (b) a first sorting network means comprising a plurality of unit switches with comparing and reporting functions, and respectively connected to the output terminals of the packet buffer means; (c) a discarding network means connected to the output terminals of the first sorting network means, for selecting only one packet among a plurality of packets contending for the same output port and discarding the rest of the plurality of packets; (d) a second sorting network means having input terminals connected to the output terminals of the discarding network means, and comprising a plurality of unit switches with a comparing function; and (e) a routing network means having input terminals connected to the second sorting network means, and comprising a plurality of unit switches with a selecting function.

Claim 7

A self-routing multistage switching network for a fast packet switching system for transmitting a plurality of packets applied to a plurality of input ports to a plurality of output ports: characterized in that said self-routing multistage switching network further comprising; (a) packet buffer means capable of storing packets, provided only in an input stage, and respectively connected to the input ports; (b) a preliminary network means connected to the output terminals of the packet buffer means, and having a detecting function to detect whether or not preliminary packets set out from the packet buffer means can be transmitted through the preliminary network means instead of being discarded and a function to report the preliminary packet which is transmitted instead of being discarded backward to the packet buffer means through the same transmission route through which the same packet has been transmitted; (c) a virtual network means having input terminals connected to the output terminals of the packet buffer means, and capable of switching operation for transmitting the virtual packets sent out from the packet buffer means to the respective target output ports; and (d) a control means for producing preliminary packets from packets stored in the packet buffer means, sending out the preliminary packets to the preliminary network, producing virtual packets o the basis of the results of selective operation of the preliminary network, and sending out the virtual packets to the virtual network.

Claim 8

A self-routing multistage switching network for a fast packet switching system for transmitting a plurality of packets applied to a plurality of input ports to a plurality of output ports: characterized in that said self-routing multistage switching network further comprising; (a) packet buffer means capable of storing packets, provided only in an input stage, and respectively connected to the input ports; (b) a preliminary network means connected to the output terminals of the packet buffer means, and having a detecting function to detect whether or not preliminary packets set out from the packet buffer means can be transmitted through the preliminary network means instead of being discarded and a function to report the preliminary packet which is transmitted instead of being discarded backward to the packet buffer means through the same transmission route through which the same packet has been transmitted; (c) a virtual network means having input terminals connected to the output terminals of the packet buffer means, and capable of switching operation for transmitting the virtual packets sent out from the packet buffer means to the respective target output ports; and (d) a control means for producing preliminary packets from packets stored in the packet buffer means, sending out the preliminary packets to the preliminary network, producing virtual packets o the basis of the results of selective operation of the preliminary network, and sending out the virtual packets to the virtual network.

Claim 9

A self-routing multistage switching network according to Claim 4, wherein the preliminary network means further comprises: (a) a first sorting network means comprising a plurality of unit switches with comparing and reporting functions and provided in the first stage; and (b) a discarding network means provided in the second stage, for selecting only one preliminary packet among a plurality of preliminary packets contending for the same output port as a winner, and for reporting the preliminary packet selected as a winner through the first sorting network means to the packet buffer means; and the virtual network means comprises: (a) a second sorting network means comprising a plurality of unit switches with a comparing function and provided in the first stage; and (b) a routing means comprising a plurality of unit switches with an output selecting function, provided in the second stage, and having output terminals connected to the plurality of output ports.