Switch for serial or parallel communication networks

A switch for transmission of bursts of data in a data communication network supporting a geographically extensive multi-processor system, the system having a plurality of processor nodes, each processor node having an associated switch, the switch comprising:

• a master processor of the multi-processor system operative to generate first and second command signals during a discrete data acquisition phase of the multi-processor system and further operative to generate third command signals during a data exchange phase of operation of the multi-processor system, wherein the generation of said command signals is not based on the information content of said data;
• first switch means, coupled to said master processor and responsive to the first command signal for selectively coupling an input data stream from a data source associated with the switch to said associated processor node;
• second switch means, coupled to said master processor and responsive to the second command signal for selectively disabling data transmissions through the switch;
• and
• third switch means, coupled to said master processor and responsive to the third command signal for selectively coupling communications links to neighboring switches for coupling a flow of data from an uplink processor node to a downlink processor node within the multi-processor system.

A switching apparatus coupled to a host processor node for transmission of bursts of data for use in a communication network supporting a geographically extensive multi-processor system having a plurality of processor nodes, said switch apparatus comprising:

• a first input connector;
• a second input connector;
• a third input connector;
• a first output connector;
• a second output connector;
• a first switch means having an open position, a first closed position and a second closed position;
• a second switch means having an open position, a first closed position and a second closed position;
• a third switch means having an open position and a closed position;
• control lines coupled from the host processor node to the first, second and third switch means for controlling the positions of said switch means;
• and
• a master processor of the multi-processor system operative to generate a plurality of control signals on said control lines for routing of data within the multi-processor system wherein the generation of said plurality of control signals is not based on the information content of said data;
• wherein said first input connector is coupled to said first output connector when said first switch means is in a first closed position and said third switch means is in a closed position;
• said first input connector is coupled to said second output connector when said first switch means is in a first closed position and said second switch means is in a first closed position;
• said third input connector is coupled to said first output connector when said first switch means is in a second closed position and said third switch means is in a closed position;
• said third input connector is coupled to said second output connector when said first switch means is in a second closed position and said second switch means is in a first closed position;
• and
• said second input connector is coupled with said second output connector when said second switch means is in a second closed position.

A method of switching of bursts of data for use in a communication network supporting a geographically extensive multi-processor system and having a dynamically reconfigurable topology, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating a plurality of control signals from a master processor of the multi-processor system for routing of data within the multi-processor system, wherein the generation of said plurality of control signals is not based on the information content of said data;
• coupling a first communication link carrying a data stream from an uplink source to a host processor node by activating a first state of a communications switch in response to a first control signal from the master processor;
• coupling the host processor to a second communication link for carrying a data stream to a downlink destination by activating a second state of said communications switch in response to a second control signal from the master processor;
• and
• coupling the first communication link to the second communication link for carrying a data stream from an uplink source to a downlink destination by activating a third state of said communications switch in response to a third control signal from the master processor.

A data communications network for transferring bursts of data in a geographically extensive, multi-processor system having a plurality of processor nodes operating in coordination, the data communications network comprising:

• a master processor of the multi-processor system operative to generate a plurality of control signals for routing of data within the multi-processor system wherein the generation of said plurality of control signals is not based on the information content of said data;
• first, second and third communications switches;
• a first data communications link between the first and second switches, and a second data communications link between the second and third switches;
• three processing nodes, each coupled for data communication to one of the three communication switches;
• each of the three communication switches adapted to independently assume one of a plurality of routing positions for data flow through the switch in response to said control signals from the master processor;
• the plurality of routing positions for data flow including a first routing position for a data flow from one of the two communications links to the processor node associated with the communications switch, a second routing position for a data flow from the processor node associated with the switch to another one of the two other communications switches through one of the two communications links, and a third routing position for a data flow from the first communication link to the second communication link.