Self-routing switching element and fast packet switch

Claim 1

A self-routing switching element for use in a packet switch including a plurality of inputs each adapted to receive input packets during a synchronous time period Where each incoming packet signal has tags, the improvement comprising: a plurality of output modules where each output module has an output for transmission of received packet signals from the input modules, each particular output module including, detector means for detecting that a particular one of said input modules has a particular one of said incoming packet signals for transmission to said particular output module, determining means for determining if said particular output module will accept said particular one of said incoming packet signals, enable means responsive to said determining means for enabling the transmission of said particular one of said incoming packet signals for acceptance by said particular output module, bus connection means connecting each input to each output module whereby each input packet signal may be connected to each output module, control means for providing common clock signals to each of said output modules to clock said output modules in packet synchronous mode.