The authors propose a cell scheduling algorithm to increase the throughput of an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching system with services of diverse priority classes. The maximum throughput is increased up to 0.949. The efficiency (output trunk utilization)/(input trunk utilization) is almost equal to 100%, and is almost independent of the switch size and the traffic load. The cell scheduling algorithm is shown to be able to provide high throughput not only for higher priority classes but also for lower priority classes. The mean cell waiting time of the highest priority class are transmitted as soon as possible. In the switching system implemented with the present cell scheduling algorithm, it is sufficient for a sorting network to establish input/output paths through it simultaneously without conflicts and it is not necessary to append a routing network to a sorting network.>

The authors consider the output contention problem with a view towards increasing the throughput for asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching systems. A cell scheduling algorithm for increasing the throughput is proposed. The maximum throughput is increased up to 0.957. The efficiency (output trunk utilization/input trunk utilization) is almost equal to 100% and is independent of the switch size and traffic load. A switching system implemented with this cell scheduling algorithm is also proposed. The switching network usually consists of a sorting network followed by a routing network. Here, it is sufficient for a sorting network to establish input-output paths through it simultaneously without conflicts, and it is not necessary to append a routing network. In addition, a parallel mesh-connected architecture of a component of the switching system is proposed to speed up the cell scheduling of the system. Consequently, this approach can offer an effective alternative to ATM switching systems.>