an interconnect structure is disclosed comprising a collection of input ports , a collection of output ports , and a switching element . data enters the switching element only at specific data entry times . the interconnect structure includes a collection of synchronizing elements . data in the form of packets enter the input ports in an asynchronous fashion . the data packets pass from the input ports to the synchronizing units . the data exits the synchronizing units and enters the switching element with each packet arriving at the switching element at a specific data entry time .