TDS operation is based on time frames (TFs) that can be viewed as virtual containers for multiple IP packets that are switched at every TDS switch based on and coordinated by the UTC (coordinated universal time) signal implementing pipeline forwarding.
In FλS, likewise in TDS, all packets in the same time frame are switched in the same way.
Consequently, header processing is not required, which results in low complexity (hence high scalability) and enables optical implementation.
Moreover, low-complexity switching fabric architectures, such as Banyan, can be deployed notwithstanding their blocking features, thus further enhancing scalability.
Several results show that (especially if multiple wavelength division multiplexing channels are deployed on optical links between fractional λ switches) high link utilization can be achieved with negligible blocking using a Banyan network without speedup.