Packet switching apparatus

A packet switching apparatus for sorting data packets received through a plurality of input lines into a plurality of output lines, the packet switching apparatus comprising:

• (1) a plurality of transfer lines corresponding, respectively, to a plurality of output line groups allocated of the plurality of output lines, each line of the plurality of transfer lines for transmitting the data packets at a line speed which is faster than a totaled line speed of a plurality of output lines in each group of the plurality of output line groups;
• (2) a first packet switching unit connected to the plurality of input lines and the plurality of transfer lines, for first sorting the data packets received through the plurality of input lines into corresponding ones of the plurality of output line groups through which the data packets are to be outputted, and for outputting first sorted data packets to corresponding ones of the plurality of transfer lines corresponding to the plurality of output line groups:
• and
• (3) a plurality of second packet switching units connected, respectively, to the plurality of transfer lines and the plurality of output line groups corresponding respectively to the plurality of transfer lines, for second sorting the first sorted data packets received through the plurality of transfer lines into corresponding ones of the plurality of output lines through which the data packets are to be outputted, and for outputting second sorted data packets to the corresponding ones of the plurality of output lines.