Interconnection fabric using switching networks in hierarchy

An interconnection fabric, comprising a first switching network, wherein the first switching network comprises:

• a first plurality of ports of a first type, the first plurality of ports comprising a first port having m1 number of pins physically connected to respective m1 number of conductors and a second port having m2 number of pins physically connected to respective m2 number of conductors;
• a second plurality of ports of a second type, the second plurality of ports comprising at least k ports, wherein each of the k ports has at most n number of pins physically connected to respective at most n number of conductors;
• a first plurality of conductors;
• a first plurality of switches,
• wherein each conductor of the first plurality of conductors is to selectively couple to a pin of any of the ports of the first switching network through at least one switch of the first plurality of switches,
• each pin of the first type of ports of the first switching network is to selectively couple to a respective pin in each port of the second type of ports of the first switching network through a respective conductor of the first plurality of conductors and at least two switches of the first plurality of switches, and
• the m1 pins of the first port are coupled to a plurality of pins of a port of a different switching network and the second port comprises pins which are coupled to pins of a plurality of ports of a respective plurality of at least one of a plurality of different switching networks and a plurality of logic function blocks;
• and
• a second switching network, wherein the second switching network comprises:
• a third plurality of ports of the first type, the third plurality of ports comprising a third port having p1 number of pins physically connected to respective p1 number of conductors and a fourth port having p2 number of pins physically connected to respective p2 number of conductors;
• a fourth plurality of ports of the second type, the fourth plurality of ports comprising at least q ports, wherein each of the q ports has at most x number of pins physically connected to respective x number of conductors;
• and
• a second plurality of switches;
• wherein each pin of the third plurality of ports of the second switching network is to selectively couple to a respective pin in each port of the fourth plurality of ports of the second switching network through the physically connected conductor of the respective pin and the second plurality of switches;
• and
• the fourth port comprises at least the pins which are coupled to the at most n pins of at least one port of the k ports.

A method to provide connectivity in an interconnection fabric comprising a first switching network, the first switching network comprising a first plurality of ports of a first type, the first plurality of ports comprising a first port having m1 number of pins physically connected to respective m1 number of conductors and a second port having m2 number of pins physically connected to respective m2 number of conductors, a second plurality of ports of a second type, the second plurality of ports comprising k ports, each of the k ports comprising at most n number of pins physically connected to respective at most n number of conductors, a first plurality of conductors, and a first plurality of switches, the method comprising:

• selectively coupling each conductor of the first plurality of conductors to a pin of any of the port of at least one of the first plurality and the second plurality of ports of the first switching network through at least one switch of the first plurality of switches;
• selectively coupling each pin of the first plurality of ports of the first switching network to a respective pin in each of the second plurality of ports of the first switching network through a respective conductor of the first plurality of conductors and at least two switches of the first plurality of switches;
• selectively connecting the m1 pins of the first port to a plurality of pins of a port of a second plurality of ports of a different switching network;
• and
• selectively coupling the m2 conductors of the second port to a plurality of pins of a plurality of the second plurality of ports, wherein each port of the plurality of ports is of at least one of a different switching network or a logic function block.

A method to provide connectivity in an interconnection fabric comprising a first switching network, the first switching network comprising a first plurality of ports of a first type, the first plurality of ports comprising a first port having m1 number of pins physically connected to respective m1 number of conductors and a second port having m2 number of pins physically connected to respective m2 number of conductors, a second plurality of ports of a second type, the second plurality of ports comprising k ports, each of the k ports comprising at most n number of pins physically connected to respective at most n number of conductors, a first plurality of conductors, and a first plurality of switches, the method comprising:

• selectively coupling each conductor of the first plurality of conductors to a pin of any of the port of at least one of the first plurality and the second plurality of ports of the first switching network through at least one switch of the first plurality of switches;
• selectively coupling each pin of the first plurality of ports of the first switching network to a respective pin in each of the second plurality of ports of the first switching network through a respective conductor of the first plurality of conductors and at least two switches of the first plurality of switches;
• selectively coupling the m1 pins of the first port to a plurality of pins of a port of a different switching network;
• and
• selectively coupling the m2 conductors of the second port to a plurality of pins of a plurality of ports, wherein each port of the plurality of ports is of at least one of a different switching network and a logic function block, wherein the interconnection fabric further comprises a second switching network, the second switching network comprises:
• a third port of the first type, the third port comprising p1 number of pins physically connected to respective p1 number of conductors,
• a fourth port of the first type, the fourth port comprising p2 number of pins physically connected to respective p2 number of conductors,
• a q number of ports of the second type, each of the q ports comprising at most x number of pins physically connected to respective x number of conductors, and
• a second plurality of switches;
• selectively coupling each pin of the third and fourth ports of the second switching network to a respective pin in each of the q ports of the second switching network through the physically connected conductor of the respective pin and at least one switch of the second plurality of switches;
• and
• selectively coupling the p2 pins of the fourth port of the second switching network to the at most n pins of at least one port of the k ports of the first switching network.