Method of simultaneously attempting parallel path connections in a multi-stage interconnection network
First Claim
1. A method for simultaneously attempting parallel path connections in a multi-stage interconnection network, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first stage including a plurality of first self-routing switches, selected ones of said first self-routing switches including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports;
providing a second stage including a plurality of second self-routing switches, selected ones of said second self-routing switches including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports;
connecting the output ports of said selected ones of said first self-routing switches in the first stage, to the input ports of said selected ones of said second self-routing switches of the second stage to form a plurality of first paths therebetween;
providing a node connected between each of the network output ports and each of the network input ports, so that the switching network establishes direct connections between any of the network input ports and network output ports, each direct connection from one of the network input ports to one of the network output ports being comprised of an equal number of switch stages;
making and breaking connection on a self-routing basis between the plurality of input ports and the plurality of output ports;
holding the attempted connections between switches awaiting availability, utilizing a plurality of self-routing camp-on functionalities; and
,attempting simultaneous parallel path connections over selected ones of the plurality of the first paths between certain output ports of said selected ones of said self-routing switches of the first stage and certain input ports of said selected ones of said second self-routing switches of the second stage.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The multi-stage interconnection network of the present invention includes the use of switches in the first stage that have parallel path seeking capabilities. With these switches, a directed flash-flood can be instigated from any one node wherein multiple paths through the network to a designated destination node are tried in parallel in an attempt to find a connection path therebetween. The switches in the first and second stages are interconnected such that each switch in the first stage is connected with every possible priority level to the switches of the second stage. The parallel path seeking switches and network are further configured to test for rejection of the flash-flood by monitoring all connections in combination.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for simultaneously attempting parallel path connections in a multi-stage interconnection network, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a first stage including a plurality of first self-routing switches, selected ones of said first self-routing switches including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports; providing a second stage including a plurality of second self-routing switches, selected ones of said second self-routing switches including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports; connecting the output ports of said selected ones of said first self-routing switches in the first stage, to the input ports of said selected ones of said second self-routing switches of the second stage to form a plurality of first paths therebetween; providing a node connected between each of the network output ports and each of the network input ports, so that the switching network establishes direct connections between any of the network input ports and network output ports, each direct connection from one of the network input ports to one of the network output ports being comprised of an equal number of switch stages; making and breaking connection on a self-routing basis between the plurality of input ports and the plurality of output ports; holding the attempted connections between switches awaiting availability, utilizing a plurality of self-routing camp-on functionalities; and
,attempting simultaneous parallel path connections over selected ones of the plurality of the first paths between certain output ports of said selected ones of said self-routing switches of the first stage and certain input ports of said selected ones of said second self-routing switches of the second stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for selectively coupling the input ports to the output ports of a self-routing switch in a switching network, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a self-routing switch having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports; providing connecting paths between said input ports and said output ports; providing a path seeking functionality for controlling the operation of a means for selectively coupling; simultaneously processing a plurality of commands received at certain ones of the input ports, each command identifying multiple connection paths from each certain input port to certain ones of the output ports; evaluating the availability of said multiple connection paths identified in each command; and establishing one and only one connection from each certain input port to one of the certain ones of the output ports. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification