A switching node for transferring addressed packets in a network includes a plurality of input port modules, a plurality of output port modules and a switching fabric, including a packet meta-data processor and a packet switch. Each input port module, upon receiving a packet, buffers the packet and generates...http://www.google.de/patents/US6804241?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6804241 - Packet forwarding apparatus and method using pipelined node address processing
