The barrel switch: An ATM switch architecture for high‐speed switching

Abstract

AbstractThis paper proposes a new asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch architecture called a “barrel switch.” The barrel switch is constructed from n/2 × n identical element switches which are placed out around a cylinder and connected to each other.The features of this proposed switch are as follows.1. This switch has an architecture suitable for high‐speed (2.4 Gbps and more) cell switching.2. It is a multistage self‐routing and nonblocking switch.3. Copy connections can be realized with this switch.4. The building‐block method is applicable to switch implementation, which ensures a full scalability.Cell loss rate and delay characteristics of this switch also are discussed using computer simulation results. Simulation results under random traffic prove that a 64 × 64 barrel switch has adequate cell loss rate and mean delay characteristics to an actual ATM switching system.