Neill Jay Allen

US Patent:

57517649, May 12, 1998

Filed:

Mar 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/399819

Inventors:

Charles S. Meyer - Nevada City CA
Neill J. Allen - Nevada City CA

Assignee:

Nvision, Inc. - Grass Valey CA

International Classification:

H04L 2502
H04L 1202
H04B 140

US Classification:

375219

Abstract:

A switch comprises n I/O ports, where n>2, and a switching core having n inputs connected to the n I/O ports respectively and n outputs connected to the n I/O ports respectively and comprising means operable to connect the ith input, where 1. ltoreq. i. ltoreq. n, to at least the jth output, where 1. ltoreq. j. ltoreq. n and j. notident. i. The switch is configured to connect the kth I/O port to the lth I/O port by: (a) determining current connection state of the kth I/O port and the lth I/O port, (b) if the kth I/O port is currently connected to another I/O port, determining I/O ports to which the kth I/O port is connected and disabling those I/O ports, (c) if the lth I/O port is currently connected to another I/O port, determining I/O ports to which the lth I/O port is connected and disabling those I/O ports, (d) configuring the kth I/O port as a source and the lth I/O port as a destination, and (e) configuring the switching core to provide a forward connection from the kth I/O port to the lth I/O port and a reverse connection from the lth I/O port to the kth I/O port.