Point-to-multipoint transmission using subqueues

Abstract

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode switch and method which facilitate point-to-multipoint transmission are disclosed. Each input port within the switch includes a switch allocation table ('SAT') which manages bandwidth allocation and delay. Each SAT includes a plurality of sequentially ordered cell time slots, a subqueue and a synchronized pointer which is directed to one of the slots such that at any given point in time each of the pointers is directed to the same slot location in the respective SAT with which the pointer is associated. To execute point-to-multipoint operation where output port conflicts are present the switch transmits copies of the cell to the output ports at different points in time. More particularly, the switch transmits copies of the cell to available output ports, and tracks such transmission for managing future transmission to unserviced output ports. To track transmission the switch includes a map and scoreboard. The subqueues are used to index into a table and may be associated with one or more output ports. The map indicates which subqueues, and hence which output ports, are initially eligible to receive a copy of the cell. The scoreboard indicates which subqueues, and hence which output ports, have received a copy of the cell. Tracking is realized by updating the scoreboard when copies of cells are transmitted. Copies of the cell are not sent to already serviced output ports. When each designated subqueue has been service, and hence each associated output port has been serviced, the cell is dequeued.