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Abstract

A switching element with a plurality of operating modes, in particular for switching asynchronous time-division multiplexed packets, comprises inputs, outputs, a selective retransmission device for retransmitting a packet received on one input to one or more outputs on the basis of routing data associated with the packet, and a retransmission control device determining the mode of operation of the retransmission device. The retransmission control device comprises a direct routing device adapted to receive from the label of a packet received on one input a destination indication and to decode it into an output identifier corresponding to one output at least in order to retransmit the packet to an output designated by the identifier. It additionally comprises a translated routing device adapted to receive from the label of a packet received on one input a reference number and to translate it using a translation memory into one or more output identifiers each corresponding to at least one output for retransmitting the packet to one output for each output identifier designated by the identifier. It additionally comprises a routing mode selector device adapted to receive from the label of a packet received on one input routing mode data and adapted to command selectively according to the data the use of a selected routing device which may be one of the above-mentioned routing devices. The routing mode selector device commands alternately the use of at least one predetermined non-selective routing mode according to the routing mode data contained in the label of a received packet.

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