Fast router and hardware-assisted fast routing method
First Claim
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1. A network comprising:
- a plurality of endpoints connectable through interconnect links; and
a plurality of switchpoints to programmably connect one or more of the interconnect links, a path between endpoints being determined by a configuration of switchpoints, wherein the switchpoints include propagation circuitry to propagate a search signal through the network, to identify the configuration of switchpoints allowing a path between a first endpoint and a second endpoint to be established.
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Abstract
A fast router and a fast hardware-assisted routing method are disclosed in a network having endpoints, switches and interconnect links. The switches are programmable to allow endpoints to be connected through a particular configuration of switches. The switches also comprise: propagation circuitry which allows a search signal to be propagated through the network; allocation circuitry to set the configuration of switches once a path has been found; and deallocation circuitry to clear a configuration of switches once no path has been found.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A network comprising:
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a plurality of endpoints connectable through interconnect links; and
a plurality of switchpoints to programmably connect one or more of the interconnect links, a path between endpoints being determined by a configuration of switchpoints, wherein the switchpoints include propagation circuitry to propagate a search signal through the network, to identify the configuration of switchpoints allowing a path between a first endpoint and a second endpoint to be established. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A network comprising:
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a plurality of endpoints connectable through interconnects; and
a plurality of programmable switchpoints to connect one or more of the interconnects, wherein the switchpoints and the interconnects act as;
search circuitry during a search phase where a search signal is propagated through the network to identify a configuration of switchpoints establishing a path between a first endpoint and at least one second endpoint;
allocation circuitry during an allocation phase where the switchpoints of the configuration of switchpoints establishing the path are set;
victimization circuitry during a deallocation phase where set switchpoints are cleared; and
path-establishing circuitry during normal operation of the network.
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20. A hardware-assisted method to route a signal between a first endpoint and a second endpoint on a network having connections and switchpoints, comprising:
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determining unused network connections; and
driving a search signal into the network to identify a configuration of switchpoints allowing a path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint to be established. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A network comprising:
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a plurality of endpoints connectable through interconnects; and
a plurality of switching elements to programmably connect one or more of the interconnects, a path between endpoints being determined by a configuration of switching elements, wherein the switching elements comprise propagation hardware to propagate a search signal through the network, in order to identify the configuration of switching elements allowing a path between one endpoint and a plurality of other endpoints to be established. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A method for searching a path, in a network having a plurality of switchpoints, between a source and a plurality of destinations, the method comprising, for each destination:
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propagating a search signal from the destination along unused network connections to identify path-establishing switchpoints establishing a path between the source and the destination; and
allocating the established path by setting the path-establishing switchpoints. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A method for establishing a route between a source and at least a destination on a programmable routing network having a plurality of switchpoints, comprising:
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in a first time step, starting a route search by driving a search signal from the source along unused network connections originating from the source;
upon reaching of a switchpoint, in a second time step, propagating the search signal along unused network connections originating from the switchpoint;
in case the search signal reaches the switchpoint from more than one direction, determining a preferred direction of propagation of the search signal originating from the switchpoint; and
terminating the route search when the search signal reaches the at least one destination. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A method for establishing a route between a source and at least one destination on a programmable routing network having a plurality of switchpoints, comprising:
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starting a route search by driving a search signal from the source to a first switchpoint;
propagating the search signal from the first switchpoint to other switchpoints; and
terminating the route search when the signal reaches the at least one destination. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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Specification