Importance

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Abstract

A system and method of scheduling packets or cells for a switch device that includes a plurality of input ports each having at least one input queue, a plurality of switch units, and a plurality of output ports. There is generated, by each input port having a packet or cell in its at least one queue, a request to output the corresponding packet or cell to each of the output ports to which a corresponding packet or cell is to be sent to, wherein the request includes a specific one of the plurality of switch units to be used in a transfer of the packet or cell from the corresponding input port to the corresponding output port. Access is granted, per output port per switch unit, to the request made on a first priority scheme. Grants are accepted per input port per switch unit, the accepting being based on a second priority scheme. Packets and/or cells are outputted from the respective input ports to the respective output ports, based on the accepted grants, utilizing the corresponding switch units identified in the accepted grants.

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First Claim