Output-buffer switch architecture for asynchronous transfer mode

An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch architecture for the broadband integrated services digital network (ISDN) is proposed. The proposed switch, called ATOM switch (ATM output-buffer modular switch), has a multistage network structure, retaining a high degree of modularity for capacity expansion. The ATOM switch element belongs to an output-buffer switch category, and it has a time-division-multiplexed bus and first in, first out buffers for individual outgoing lines. A bit-sliced circuit structure is adopted to implement the high-speed time-division bus and buffer memories. The proposed switch has no throughput degradation because of internal blocking, and has a simple control structure for providing a priority scheme and multicast connections.<>