Multipath banyan-based multistage networks for ATM switches

Owing to the single path property of the banyan network, cell losses caused by the internal conflicts is well pronounced. To overcome this problem, multipath ATM switches have been investigated. We propose a class of ATM switch architectures that are constructed based on 3×3 switch elements (SEs). The proposed structures are constructed by adding lateral links to the banyan network to provide many paths between each input/output pair. As a result, the cell losses caused by internal conflicts are significantly reduced. And the proposed switch models are very modular, easy to expand, and use self-routing. The proposed switches use output queues to deal with the problem of cell sequence. From the analysis and simulation results, the proposed switches have the features of low cell loss probability and low cell delay.