Northern Telecom Limited

Kenneth N Grimble

Keith D Anderson

Broadband ATM switches for switching ATM packetized data in timeslots are disclosed. In one embodiment, the switch includes input buffer, a space switch for connecting input ports and output ports at successive timeslots and a system scheduler. The timeslot utilization processing is carried out by using a content addressable memory. A bit map is provided for registering the timeslot utilization of the input ports and the output ports. An encoder determines the earliest commonly available timeslot for connecting input ports and their requested output ports. There is further disclosed an architecture in which groups of input ports share common buffer memories and in which the system scheduler processes grouped inputs, thus taking advantage of the architecture's similar characteristics and advantages to those of the common memory switch.

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Nepean, Canada

Kenneth N Grimble