A complete set of VLSI circuits for ATM switching

The broadband services offered via the ATM-based B-ISDN range from high-speed data services to imaging services. A complete chip set for ATM switching systems is presented. The VLSI components allow one to implement the most significant functions in an ATM node. Three chips are located in the exchange termination: the cell header processor that processes the ATM cells for label conversion, external to internal format translation and cell extraction and insertion, the policing unit that implements both the usage and the network parameter control functions, and the duplicated path recombining controller that duplicates and recombines respectively the input and output cell flow. The fourth component is the core of the ATM switching fabric: the broadband ATM switching element that switches the ATM cells according to the routing information written in the cell internal header, this component is presented in two different realisations (a CMOS low power 8/spl times/8, a BiCMOS 16/spl times/16). All the circuits are designed for an industrial environment and are inserted in the Italtel UTXC cross connect. System debugging testability and controllability inspired the whole chip set design. Flexibility of specifications allows one to fit other applications and future development. High performance in term of speed, low power dissipation, high integration density really stressed the technology of VLSI circuits.