Packet switching system having arbitrative function for competing packets

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Disclosed is a packet switching system having on its, input side, m-sorting modules each having sorting circuitry for sorting a plurality of packets entered simultaneously according to the destination address; dropping circuitry for if there are, a plurality of competing packets having the same destination address among the packets sorted by the sorting circuitry keep-, ing one of the competing packets and dropping the rest to inferior on sorting module; and routing circuitry for routing each packet passed by the dropping circuitry on the basis of the destination address. The m-sorting modules are so sequentially connected as to make the dropped output of the dropping circuitry of a …