Duplicated network arrays and control facilities for packet switching

Circuitry for controlling the communication of information packets among a single communication channel and a plurality of network switching arrays, comprising:

• common buffer means for storing packets for sequential transmission to said channel;
• array interface means comprising means for each of said arrays for storing concurrently packets received from said arrays each comprising individual variable buffer means for temporarily storing one of said packets as received from one of said arrays until said common buffer means is available for storing the stored one of said packets in said variable buffer means;
• and
• common control means responsive to availability signals from said channel for controlling the concurrent sequencing of stored information packets from each of said storing means to said common buffer means for transmission to said channel.

An interface facility equipped for communicating packets from a plurality of switching arrays to a transmission link, comprising:

• first means for storing packets received from one of said arrays;
• second means for storing packets received from another one of said array;
• means for buffering packets from said first and second storing means;
• selection means comprising means responsive to the start of the storage of a first received one of said packets in said first storing means for initiating transmission of the stored first one of said packets from said first storing means to said buffering means;
• means responsive to the completion of said transmission of said first one of said packets for initiating a transmission of a second received one of said packets from said second storing means to said buffering means;
• said second storing means comprises means responsive to the start of the storage of said second received one of said packets for transmitting a request signal to said selection means to request permission to transmit the stored second one of said packets from said second storing means to said buffer means;
• said selection means comprising means responsive to said request signal and said completion of the transmission of said first one of said packets from said first storing means for transmitting to said second storing means a grant signal;
• and
• said second storing means further comprising means responsive to said grant signal for initiating the transfer of said second one of said packets from said second storage means to said buffering means.

An interface facility equipped for communicating packets from a transmission link to a plurality of switching arrays each having means for generating a ready signal upon being capable of packet reception, comprising:

• a plurality of means for communicating packets from said transmission link to each of said arrays;
• selection means responsive to the receipt of each said packets sequentially for selecting each of said communicating means in response to a receipt thereby of a ready signal for the communication of said packets;
• each of said communicating means comprising timing means for generating a timed interval in an absence of a receipt of the ready signal from one of said arrays and means responsive to the expiration of said timed interval for generating a fault signal;
• and
• means controlling said selection means responsive to a receipt of said fault signal for inhibiting a selection of the one of said communicating means connected to said one of said arrays.

A packet switching network arrangement comprises a plurality of switching arrays and a plurality of interface means each of which interconnects each of said arrays with an individual one of a plurality of packet transmission means;

• each one of said arrays comprising means for supplying a control signal to each of said interface means signifying an availability of said one of said arrays for switching a packet;
• each one of said interface means comprising means responsive to a receipt of a packet and the supplied control signals for selecting an available one of said arrays for switching the received packet;
• and
• each of said interface means further comprising means responsive to a receipt of a second packet and said supplied control signals for selecting a next sequential one of said arrays for transmission of a second packet.

A packet switching network arrangement having a plurality of switching arrays and a plurality of interface means each interconnecting each of said arrays with one of a plurality of packet transmission means;

• each one of said interfaces means comprising a plurality of receiving means each of which connects to an individual one of said arrays for a supplying control signal to said one of said arrays signifying an availability of the receiving means for receiving a packet;
• each of said arrays comprising a plurality of means each of which connects to one of said receiving means and responsive to the control signal from said connected receiving means and a packet awaiting transmission for transmitting said packet to said one of said receiving means;
• and
• said one of said receiving means comprising means responsive to the initial receipt of said packet for storing said packet until the transferring of said packet to the interconnected one of said transmission means can commence.

A packet switching system for the communication of packets, comprising:

• transmission means;
• a switching network comprising a plurality of arrays, each of said switching arrays comprising a plurality of switching elements for communication of said packets;
• interface means for interconnecting said transmission means and said plurality of switching arrays and comprising a plurality of transmitting means;
• one of said arrays comprising means to determine the availability of said one of said arrays to accept packets for transmitting a first signal to one of said transmitting means;
• said one of said transmitting means responsive to one of said packets from said transmission means and the receipt of said first signal for transmitting said one of said packets to said one of said arrays;
• another one of said arrays comprising means to determine the availability of said other one of said arrays to accept packets for transmitting a second signal to another one of said transmission means;
• and
• said other one of said transmitting means responsive to another one of said packets from said transmission means and the receipt of said second signal for transmitting said other one of said packets to said other one of said switching arrays.

A packet switching system for the communication of packets, comprising:

• transmission means;
• a switching network comprising a plurality of switching arrays;
• interface means for interconnecting said transmission means and said plurality of arrays;
• said interface means comprising first storage means connected to one of said arrays for buffering one of said packets received from said one of said arrays;
• second storage means connected to another one of said arrays for buffering another one of said packets received from said other one of said arrays;
• buffer means for storing packets transferred from said first and second storage means;
• selection means interconnecting said buffer means and said first and second storage means;
• and
• said selection means being responsive to the receipt of said one of said packets from said first storage means by said first storage means to transfer said one of said packets to said buffer means.

A packet switching system for communication of packets, comprising:

• a switching network comprising a plurality of switching arrays;
• processor means;
• transmission means;
• interface means interconnecting said transmission means and said plurality of switching arrays;
• said interface means comprising means responsive to a first set of bits generated by said processor means to transmit packets received from said transmission means to said switching arrays in a sequential order;
• and
• means responsive to a second set of bits from said processor means to transmit said packets only to one of said switching arrays.

A method of communicating packets through a packet switching system comprising switching networks each having a plurality of switching arrays, said switching networks interconnected by a plurality of transmission means with each transmission means being connected to a given network by one of a plurality of interface facilities, each having a plurality of storage means with each of said storage means connected to one of said switching arrays and buffering means connected to said attached transmission means, said interface facility further having selection means interconnecting said buffering means and said plurality of storage means, said method comprising the steps:

• transmitting to said selection means a signal upon said buffer means being capable of storing another packet;
• transferring one of said packets to said buffer means upon receipt of said signal by said selection means and said one of said storage means containing one of said packets;
• and
• transferring another one of said packets to said buffer means upon the completion of transferring said one of said packets to said buffer means and another one of said storage means containing said other one of said packets.