Configurable stream switch with virtual channels for the sharing of i/o ports in stream-based architectures

Abstract

A stream switch includes a data router, configuration registers, and arbitration logic. The data router has a plurality of input ports, each having a plurality of associated virtual input channels, and a plurality of output ports, each having a plurality of associated virtual output channels. The data router transmits data streams from input ports to one or more output ports of the plurality of output ports. The configuration registers store configuration data associated with the virtual output channels of the respective output ports of the plurality of output ports. The stored configuration data identifies a source input port and virtual input channel ID associated with the virtual output channel of the output port. The arbitration logic allocates bandwidth of the data router based on request signals associated with virtual input channels of the input ports and the configuration data associated with the virtual output channels.