Flash-flooding multi-stage interconnection network with parallel path seeking switching elements

Claim 1

A multi-stage interconnection network, comprising: a first stage including a plurality of first self-routing switches, each first switch including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports; a second stage including a plurality of second self-routing switches, each second switch including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports; means for connecting the output ports of each first switch in the first stage to second switches of the second stage forming a plurality of paths therebetween; inputs to said first switches comprising network input ports and outputs from said second switches comprising network output ports; a node connected between each of the network output ports and each of the network input ports, whereby the switching network establishes direct connections between any of the network input ports and network output ports, whereby each direct connection from one of the network input ports to one of the network output ports is comprised of an equal number of switch stages; said first switches and second switches further comprised of a plurality of self-routing means for making and breaking connections between the plurality of input ports and the plurality of output ports; said first switches and second switches further comprised of a plurality of self-routing camp-on functionalities for holding attempted connections between switches awaiting availability; and means for simultaneously attempting parallel path connections over certain ones of the plurality of first paths between certain output ports of one of the first switches of the first stage and certain input ports of the second switches of the second stage in a flash-flood operation.