Matrix router and method of switching
AssigneeThinklogical, LLC
InventorLawrence J. Wachter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A matrix router and method of switching comprising a combined input stage and output stage (I/O stage) having m matrix switch(es), each matrix switch having n inputs and n outputs, each input of said n inputs switchable within said matrix switch to any output of said n outputs, k core outputs and k core inputs, each input of said n inputs switchable to any core output of said k core outputs and each core input of said k core inputs switchable to any output of said n outputs; and a core stage having a matrix switch at least with m times k core stage inputs and at least m times k core stage outputs, each core stage input connected to one core output of said I/O stage, and each core stage output connected to one core input of said I/O stage, where m, n and k are integers and m≧1, n≧2, k≧n.
Claims10
A matrix router comprising:
- a combined input stage and output stage (I/O stage) having m matrix switch(es), each matrix switch having
- n inputs and n outputs, each input of said n inputs switchable within said matrix switch to any output of said n outputs,
- k core outputs and k core inputs, each input of said n inputs switchable to any core output of said k core outputs and each core input of said k core inputs switchable to any output of said n outputs;
- and
- a core stage having a matrix switch at least with m times k core stage inputs and at least m times k core stage outputs, each core stage input connected to one core output of said I/O stage, and each core stage output connected to one core input of said I/O stage,
- where m, n and k are integers and m≧24 1, n≧2, k≧n.
A method of switching inputs to outputs using a matrix router having a combined input stage and output stage (I/O stage) having a plurality of matrix switches, each matrix switch having
- inputs and outputs, each input switchable within said matrix switch to any output of said switch,
- core outputs and core inputs, each input switchable to any core output and each core input switchable to any output;
- and
- a core stage (center stage) having a plurality of matrix switches, each core stage matrix switch having core stage inputs and core stage outputs, each core stage input connected to one core output of said I/O stage, and each core stage output connected to one core input of said I/O stage,
- comprising the steps of:
- determining if an input is to be switched to a single unicast output or to multicast outputs,
- if unicast, determining if the input and output are on a same input/out (I/O) matrix switch and if on the same I/O matrix switch routing the input to the output on the same I/O matrix switch, otherwise identifying a center stage matrix switch that has an available core stage input and an available core stage output to the desired output on a different I/O matrix switch and routing the input to the output on the different I/O matrix switch via said center stage matrix switch;
- and
- if multicast,
- determining if the I/O input is already routed to a center stage matrix switch, and if already routed to a center stage matrix switch, determining if that center stage matrix switch has an available core stage output that is directed to an I/O matrix switch of the desired outputs and routing the input to the desired outputs of said I/O matrix switch via said center stage matrix switch, otherwise identifying a center stage matrix switch that has an available core stage input and core stage output to the desired outputs of another I/O matrix switch and routing the input to the desired outputs via said identified center stage matrix switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.