Self-routing switch element for an asynchronous time switch

An asynchronous time switch comprising:

• a plurality of input port controllers;
• an input buffer containing a queue of incoming packet signals from which each of said plurality of input port controllers is fed;
• a plurality of output port controllers;
• an output buffer fed by each of said plurality of output port controllers;
• and
• a switch fabric interconnecting said plurality of input port controllers and said plurality of output port controllers, wherein said switch fabric comprises a plurality of switching elements providing a signal path connection between each of said plurality of input port controllers and each of said plurality of output port controllers and wherein said switch fabric includes.
• a plurality of selectors each having an input from one of said input port controllers for receiving incoming packet signals having tags;
• a plurality of arbiters each having an output to one of said output port controllers for transmitting packet signals having tags;
• a signal path connection between each of said plurality of selectors and each of said plurality of arbiters;
• each of said plurality of selectors operable to examine tags to route said incoming tagged packet signals to said plurality of arbiters as transmitted tagged packet signals.

An asynchronous time switch comprising:

• a plurality of inputs;
• a plurality of outputs;
• a plurality of switching elements operable to connect said plurality of inputs and said plurality of outputs so as to define a plurality of signal paths between each of said plurality of inputs and each of said plurality of outputs;
• input control means operable to transmit copies of a packet signal substantially simultaneously along all of said plurality of signal paths between one of said plurality of inputs and one of said plurality of outputs;
• and
• output control means operable to detect a single copy of said packet signal received at one of said plurality of outputs from one of said plurality of signal paths and to prevent subsequent copies of said packet signal from being transmitted along others of said plurality of signal paths.

An asynchronous time switch operable to transmit tagged packet signals carrying voice class information and tagged packet signals carrying data class information comprising:

• a plurality of inputs;
• a plurality of outputs;
• a plurality of switching elements having a plurality of signal paths between each of said plurality of inputs and each of said plurality of outputs;
• input control means operable to distinguish whether an incoming one of said tagged packet signals to be transmitted is carrying voice class information or data class information;
• wherein said input control means is further operable to transmit said tagged packet signals carrying data class information over one or more signal paths only when all said tagged packet signals carrying voice class information have been transmitted.