Interconnection Networks

Abstract

Before embarking upon the design of programmable logic interconnect, it is inspiring and informative to reflect back on the design of interconnection networks in general. Interconnections networks have original foundations in telephony, and from this spawned a great deal of research in computer systems networks, parallel systems design, and graph theory. Rather than present a thorough treatment of such voluminous work, this chapter presents a few of the most interesting and relevant interconnection networks from the past. This historical perspective provides an interesting viewpoint which helps us understand interconnection networks used in programmable logic.