US Patent 7525904 Redundant packet routing and switching device and method

A router and method therefore for routing and switching a packet from an incoming link to an outgoing link. The router may include a plurality of network processing units, a plurality of switching engines, and a plurality of connections between the plurality of network processing units and the plurality of switching engines defining a rotational symmetric topology. The router may also include a means for connecting the plurality of network processing units to the plurality of switching engines, as well as means for connecting the plurality of switching engines to the plurality of line card units. In one example, the plurality of line card units is connected with the plurality of switching engines in a full mesh topology.