Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
An output-buffer switch for an asynchronous transfer mode, comprising: a plurality of input buffer sections each for temporarily storing cells coming in through a respective input line; a time-division multiplexing section for time-division multiplexing the cells from said plurality of input buffer sections; and a plurality of output buffer sections each for temporarily storing the cells from said time-division multiplexing section which are meant for a respective output line; said plurality of output buffer sections each comprising a buffer for temporarily storing the cells to be outputted to the respective output line; and a buffer occupancy ratio calculator for monitoring a trailing cell address information and a leading cell address information in said buffer, for calculating an occupancy ratio of said buffer on a basis of said trailing cell address information and said leading cell address information, and for sending a buffer occupancy state signal to said plurality of input buffer sections in accordance with a result of said calculation; said plurality of input buffer sections each comprising a plurality of cell buffers, and a buffer controller for distributing the incoming cells to said plurality of cell buffers in response to said buffer occupancy state signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
An output-buffer switch for an asynchronous transfer mode, comprising: a plurality of input buffer sections each for temporarily storing cells coming in through a respective input line; a time-division multiplexing section for time-division multiplexing the cells from said plurality of input buffer sections; and a plurality of output buffer sections each for temporarily storing the cells from said time-division multiplexing section which are meant for a respective output line; said plurality of output buffer sections each comprising a buffer for temporarily storing the cells to be outputted to the respective output line; and a buffer occupancy ratio calculator for monitoring a trailing cell address information and a leading cell address information in said buffer, for calculating an occupancy ratio of said buffer on a basis of said trailing cell address information and said leading cell address information, and for sending a buffer occupancy state signal to said plurality of input buffer sections in accordance with a result of said calculation; said plurality of input buffer sections each comprising a plurality of cell buffers, and a buffer controller for distributing the incoming cells to said plurality of cell buffers in response to said buffer occupancy state signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said buffer occupancy ratio calculator comprises means for sending said buffer occupancy state signal only when the buffer occupancy ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said buffer controller of each of said input buffer sections comprises control means for using only one of said plurality of cell buffers when said buffer occupancy state signal is absent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
A switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein said input buffer sections each further comprises an address filter for monitoring headers of the incoming cells and delivering only the cells having allowed headers to be routed to one of said plurality of cell buffer sections, said buffer controller comprising a second control means for interrupting the incoming cells having the headers for routing to one of said output buffer sections from which said buffer occupancy state signal has been sent, and switching to another one of said plurality of cell buffer sections for storing the incoming cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein said input buffer sections each further comprises a buffer selector for selecting outputs of said plurality of cell buffers and sending said outputs to said time-division multiplexing section, said buffer controller further comprising a third control means for controlling said buffer selector to select one of said plurality of cell buffer sections based on said buffer occupancy state signal.