ATM Switching
an ATM switch receives a cell
reads output port and new VPI/ VCI for the next link from routing table
write the new VPI/ VCI into cell
buffers cell on destination output port
- above must be done in 3 microseconds at OC-3 rates (155 Mb/ s)
- above must be done in 1/ 3 microsecond at OC-24 rates (1.2 Gb/ s)