The principal investigator (PI) will develop a detailed plan for a switching system capable of supporting gigabit networks. There search focuses on three areas: 1) architectural studies including the development of a detailed plan for a switching system using bit-sliced switching elements as key elements. The system will be made more compatible with the emerging Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks, 2) component design and fabrication including the exploration of hybrid packaging methods for the bit-sliced switch element, and 3) performance studies in which the PI will extend his method based on Jenq's as well as Szmanski's and Shaikh's work to supply information about transient behavior. The approach will combine analysis with simulation, using simulation to provide a changing set of traffic conditions which will vary the parameters of the analytical model.
