Nonblocking Multirate Networks

An extension of the classical theory of connection networks is defined and studied. This extension models systems in which multiple connections of differing data rates share the links within a network. Conditions under which the Clos and Cantor networks are strictly nonblocking for multirate traffic are determined. The authors also determine conditions under which the Benes network and variants of the Cantor and Clos networks are rearrangeable. It is found that strictly nonblocking operation can be obtained for multirate traffic with essentially the same complexity as in the classical context.