Packet switching method with time-based routing

A system for switching of a plurality of incoming data packets comprised of position delimiter signals and a packet header through a switch comprised of a plurality of uniquely addressable input ports and plurality of uniquely addressable output ports, wherein the transfer of the data packets is provided during respective ones of a plurality of predefined time intervals, wherein each of the predefined time intervals is comprised of a plurality of predefined time frames, said system comprising:

• a common time reference signal coupled to each of the switches;
• wherein the common time reference is partitioned into time frames;
• wherein a predefined number of contiguous k time frames are grouped into a time cycle, wherein k is at least 1;
• wherein a predefined number of contiguous l time cycles are grouped into a super cycle, wherein l is at least 1;
• a position counter for providing an instant position counter value responsive to counting the position delimiter signals in incoming time frames associated with the incoming data packets;
• a routing controller with a time-based routing table for selecting at least one output port that said data packets will be forwarded to;
• wherein the routing controller is coupled to the input port and attaches to the packet header a time-frame of arrival (TOA) and the instant position counter value prior to coupling of the respective data packets to the output port;
• wherein the time-frame of arrival is representative of the common time reference and is represented as a time frame number within a time cycle and as time cycle number within a super cycle;
• a switching fabric;
• and
• an output data packet scheduling controller for scheduling predefined time frames associated with prospective output of each of the incoming data packets.

A switching method responsive to a common time reference signal for receiving incoming data packets and transmitting outgoing data packets at relative positions within time intervals comprised of predefined time frames, wherein one or more packets can be communicated within each of the time frames, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of input ports each having a unique address;
• providing a plurality of output ports each having a unique address;
• determining a defined time in for each of the incoming data packets, for associating each said respective data packets with a particular one of the predefined time frames;
• determining a relative position for each of said respective incoming data packet within the respective particular time frame;
• and
• providing a routing to an associated particular one of the output ports at an associated particular position and within an associated second particular time frame, responsive to (1) the unique address of the input port associated with each one of the incoming data packets;
• (2) the associated time-frame of arrival;
• and (3) the associated relative position for each said respective incoming data packet within said time-frame of arrival.