ECI value generations in CSE-based distributors

In this letter we consider two efficient external control input (ECI) value generation methods for the controlled switching element (CSE)-based distributor, which is a new distributor structure that does not require the dummy address generation and extraction operations of the conventional distributors. The first method relies on the active packet counter and the ECI generator for ECI value generation, and the second method utilizes the intrinsic ECI generation property of the CSE-based reverse banyan network (RBN). The first method brings forth a flexible distributor structure, while the second method renders a very simple structure. In fact, the second method yields the so-called autonomous distributor, consisting only of a CSE-based RBN and a set of delays, which is perceived as the simplest among all available distributors. In addition, we introduce a modified version of the autonomous distributor which can speed up the connection-state setup process