Method and apparatus for implementing hunt group support for a crosspoint controller

A crosspoint controller for coupling a first data bus to a second data bus, comprising:

• a switch having an input and output;
• a plurality of input member ports coupled between said first data bus and said switch input, wherein said first data bus is coupled to said switch input through a first member port if available and alternatively through a next available member port if said first member port is not available;
• and
• at least one output port coupled between said switch output and said second data bus;
• and
• a circuit for determining if said port associated with said output port is busy due to an attempt to establish a connection to said input port through which said first data bus is coupled to said switch, and, if said port associated with said output port is busy, allowing a connection therebetween to be established.

A crosspoint controller for coupling a first data bus to a second data bus, comprising:

• a switch having an input and output;
• a plurality of output member ports coupled between said switch output and said second data bus, wherein said switch output is coupled to said second data bus through a first member port if available and alternatively through a next available member port if said first member port is not available;
• and
• at least one input port coupled between said first data bus and said switch input;
• and
• a circuit for determining whether said output member port to which said switch output is coupled is busy due to an attempt by an input port seeking to establish contact thereto, if so, allowing a connection therebetween to be established.

A method for coupling a first data bus to a second data bus through a source port to a destination port path, comprising:

• determining if either said source port or said destination port is a member of one of a plurality of predefined source and destination hunt groups respectively;
• coupling a first available member of said source hunt group to said destination port if said source port is a member of one of said plurality of predefined source hunt groups;
• coupling a first available member of said destination hunt group to said source port if said destination port is a member of one of said plurality of predefined destination hunt groups;
• and if said destination port is busy, determining if said source port is busy due to an attempt to establish a connection to said destination, and, if so, allowing a connection therebetween to be established.