Eric S Leung

US Patent:

6553027, Apr 22, 2003

Filed:

May 21, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/315971

Inventors:

Ian Lam - Daly City CA
Eric Tsin-Ho Leung - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

H04Q 1100

US Classification:

370386, 370396

Abstract:

An arrangement and method of operating a network switch arrangement in a packet switched network connects a plurality of multiport network switches which is in a circular, serial manner so that data is transferable between the network switches only unidirectionally. When it is determined that data is to be transmitted from a first network switch to a port in a second network switch, the data is transmitted over an expansion bus from the first network switch to the second network switch in a continuous stream of data bursts. This extremely fast transmission between the networks switches allows multiple multiport network switches to be cascaded together to effectively form a single network switch with at least twice as many ports.