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Abstract

An ATM switch with a switch queuing system which minimizes cell loss for bursty traffic, while avoiding delay for time-critical. The switch has a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, a switch fabric transmitting cells from the input ports to the output ports, and a backpressure signal circuit connected between each output buffer of each output port and each input buffer of each input port. Each input port has an input buffer holding ATM cells when the cells arrive faster from the port's input channel than the input port can transmit. The input port transmits cells from its input buffer responsive to a plurality of priority levels. Each output port has an output buffer holding cells when the cells arrive faster from the input ports than the output port can transmit. The output port also transmits cells from its output buffer responsive to a plurality of priority levels. The backpressure signal circuit sends a signal from a congested output buffer through the switch fabric to those input port buffers which had immediately transmitted a cell to the output buffer so that the input port buffers cease transmission. In this manner, the ATM switch drops cells on a per-connection basis, rather than on cell priority level.

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First Claim