Nonblocking Multirate Distribution Networks

This paper generalizes known results for nonblocking distribution networks also known as generalized connection networks to the mul tirate environment where di erent user connec tions share a switch s internal data paths in arbi trary fractions of the total capacity In particular we derive conditions under which networks due to Ofman and Thompson Pippenger and Turner lead to multirate distribution networks Our re sults include both rearrangeable and wide sense nonblocking networks The complexity of the re arrangeable multirate networks exceeds that of the corresponding space division network by a log log factor while the complexity of the wide sense nonblocking networks is within a factor of two of the corresponding space division networks Index Terms nonblocking networks distribu tion networks generalized connection networks multipoint networks multicast communication