Method and apparatus for improving data transmission in router fabric cards through pseudo-synchronous data switching

A method for high-speed transmission of packet data from ingress to egress interfaces connected across an electronic module through a switching component, comprising the steps of:

• (a) organizing incoming data into a packet train to be transmitted from a specific ingress interface and destined to a specific egress interface, and inserting therein additional data comprising a start of train (SOT) and an end of train (EOT) identifier;
• (b) requesting permission from a scheduling component to transmit the assembled packet train from ingress to egress on the module through the switching component;
• (c) upon receiving authorization to transmit by an ingress interface, transmitting the assembled packet train through the switching component;
• and
• (d) upon recognizing the EOT of a packet train, switching transmission to a different packet train.

A packet switching module comprising:

• a plurality of ingress and egress interfaces;
• and
• data switching components between interfaces;
• characterized in that data coming into a first one of the plurality of interfaces is organized into specific data-packet trains to be transmitted from a specific ingress interface and destined to a specific egress interface, each having a start-of-train (SOT) identifier and an end-of-train (EOT) identifier, and wherein the switching element recognizes the SOT and the EOT identifiers and switches transmission to a next interface and train accordingly.

A data packet router, comprising:

• external ingress/egress interfaces for receiving and sending data packets to and from neighboring routers or hosts;
• and
• one or more packet switching elements, each having a plurality of local ingress and egress interfaces and data switching components between the interfaces;
• characterized in that data coming into a first one of the plurality of interfaces is organized into specific data-packet trains to be transmitted from a specific ingress interface and destined to a specific egress interface, each having a start-of-train (SOT) identifier and an end-of-train (EOT) identifier, and wherein the switching element recognizes the SOT and the EOT identifiers and switches transmission to a next interface and train accordingly.