Method for dynamically computing a switching schedule

Methods and systems for dynamically computing a schedule defining interconnections between ports in a switching system. In one embodiment, a switching core requests demand reports from the ingress ports. In response to this request, the ingress ports generate a series of suggested port schedules, beginning with a first choice, then a second choice, and so on. The schedules are transmitted to the switching core, beginning with the first choice. The switching core receives the first choice for each of the ports and determines whether the aggregate schedule defined by the first choices is valid. If the aggregate schedule is valid, then this schedule is implemented. If the aggregate schedule is not valid, portions of it are discarded and the next choice from each of the ports is examined to identify connections to replace the discarded portions. This process is repeated until a valid schedule is obtained.