A method and apparatus for efficient switching of multiplexed streams by
mapping multiplexed frames with channel identifiers in multiplexed streams
to corresponding output streams and channel identifiers. A system in
accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a
plurality of input ports for receiving packets for switching, a plurality
of output ports, each of the plurality of output ports having an output
queue and a switching fabric, disposed between the plurality of input and
output ports. The switching fabric identifies an input multiplexed stream
to which a received packet belongs, notes the channel identifier of each
frame in the received packet, identifies an output multiplexed stream and
channel identifier corresponding to the input multiplexed stream and
channel identifier for each frame in the received packet and inserting
each frame for transmission to the output queue associated with the
identified corresponding multiplexed stream and channel identifier.
