Star coupler device including means for connecting multiple star couplers together in a cascaded relationship

A data processing system, comprising:

• a plurality of first level star couplers, each of said first level star couplers having a plurality of input and output ports, each one of said first level star couplers including:
• a first OR gate connected to receive a first plurality of input signals from its associated processors for combining said received input signals to generate a first output signal;
• a multiplexer having first and second inputs, said first input being connected to receive said first output signal, said second input being connected to receive a second output signal, said multiplexer providing an output signal which can be selected to be either said first output signal or said second output signal;
• and
• a first output driver circuit having an input port connected to receive the output of said multiplexer and a plurality of output ports forming the output ports of said first level star coupler, each of said first star coupler's output ports providing an output signal equivalent to the output signal received from said multiplexer;
• a plurality of processors associated with each one of said first level star couplers, each one of said processors being connected to a corresponding input port and a corresponding output port of its associated first level star coupler;
• and
• a second level star coupler having a plurality of input and output ports, wherein an output port of each one of said first level star couplers is connected to a corresponding input port of a said second level star coupler, and wherein an input port of each one of said first level star couplers is connected to a corresponding output port of said second level star coupler, said second level star coupler including:
• a second OR gate connected to receive the first output signals from said each of said first level star couplers for combining said received first output signals to generate said second output signal;
• and
• a second output driver circuit having an input port connected to receive said second output signal and a plurality of output ports forming the output ports of said second level star coupler, one of the output ports of said second output driver being connected to provide said second output signal to the second input of said multiplexer.