An optimal nonblocking multicast virtual circuit switch

This paper describes an architecture for a multicast virtual circuit switch using cell recycling. This is the first nonblocking switch architecture that is optimal in both the switching network complexity and the amount of memory required for routing cells in multicast virtual circuits. Furthermore, it is optimal in the amount of effort required for multicast virtual circuit modification. This architecture makes it both technically and economically feasible to construct the large switching systems that will ultimately be needed for wide scale deployment of broadband ISDN to residential users.< >