Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An improvement is provided to a network switch of the type including a set of input and output ports for receiving and forwarding data transmissions from and to network stations and a crosspoint switch for selectively routing data transmissions between the input and output ports. Each input port stores successive incoming data transmissions in an input buffer queue. When a data transmission reaches the head of the queue, the input port requests a route through the crosspoint switch to an output port that is to forward the transmission to a network station. When the output port is ready to receive the transmission the crosspoint switch establishes the route and the input port forwards the data transmission from its buffer queue to the output port. In the improved network switch, the input port discards the data transmission at the head of the buffer queue without forwarding it to an output port when necessary to make room in the buffer for incoming transmissions.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim