Very large scale modular switch

Claim 1

A one-sided crosspoint switch for making simultaneous electrical interconnections among a plurality of ports in response to interconnection requests, comprising: a plurality of ports partitioned into N groups of ports; a plurality of N controllers, each of said controllers servicing a distinct one of said groups of ports by responding to interconnection requests therefrom; a plurality of internal busses partitioned into N groups of internal busses, a distinct one of said groups of internal busses being assigned for use by each of said controllers; a plurality of crosspoint switching elements, a distinct one of said crosspoint switching elements connecting each one of said ports with each one of said internal busses for making a selective electrical interconnection between said connected one port and said connected one internal bus; means for each of said controllers to control a distinct group of said crosspoint switching elements, said distinct group of crosspoint switching elements controlled by said each controller being all of said crosspoint switching elements that are connected to a port in said group of ports serviced by said each controller; and a communication system interconnecting said controllers; a first one of said controllers responding to a request for interconnection of a first one of said ports serviced by said first controller with a second one of said ports serviced by a second one of said controllers by sending a message over said communication system to said second controller, whereby said controllers can simultaneously process and implement a plurality of interconnection requests.