Method to provide link grouping in a packet switch

A method of grouping links in a packet switch for constant-length packets, the packet switch having a plurality of transmission links for selectively connecting a plurality of input ports to a plurality of output ports via routes through the switch, comprising the steps of:

• grouping, according to a link protocol, a plurality of incoming physical links into a link group, wherein the link group has a bandwidth that is a sum of bandwidths of the grouped incoming physical links;
• connecting incoming physical links to respective input ports;
• providing, according to the link protocol, labels for each packet communicated via the link group, wherein the labels describe a route through the switch;
• distributing packets communicated via the grouped incoming physical links among a plurality of outgoing physical links connected to output ports of the switch;
• and
• preserving a sequence order of said packets as they are being communicated synchronizing packets communicated via the link group based on a predetermined timing pattern established by said link protocol.

A method for routing packets in a packet switched network comprising the steps of:

• transmitting an internal flow of packets in a sequence to a grouping logic device;
• distributing said packets using a link protocol over a plurality of physical links according to a predetermined timing pattern established by said link protocol;
• receiving said packets at a recreating logic device using said predetermined timing pattern;
• and
• outputting said packets from said recreating logic in said sequence.