Apparatus and method for efficiently transferring ATM cells across a backplane in a network switch

An electrical apparatus for use in efficiently transferring data cells across a backplane in a network switch, said apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of parallel data input ports for receiving parallel input data;
• a first multiplexer for receiving said parallel input data and for directing said parallel input data to one or more of a plurality of first multiplexer outputs as multiplexed parallel input data;
• a first converter in communication with said first multiplexer for converting said multiplexed parallel input data into serial output data;
• a plurality of serial data output ports for transmitting said serial output data from said first converter to said backplane;
• a plurality of serial data input ports for receiving serial input data from said backplane;
• a second converter for converting said received serial input data from said plurality of serial data input ports into parallel output data;
• a second multiplexer for receiving said parallel output data and for directing said parallel output data to one or more of a plurality of second multiplexer outputs as multiplexed parallel output data;
• and
• a plurality of parallel data output ports for transmitting said multiplexed parallel output data.