A scheduler and method for scheduling packet forwarding operations is provided. Packet forwarding request information associated with a first set of input port/output port combinations is received. Packet forwarding request information associated with a second set of input port/output port combinations different from the first set of input port/output port combinations is received, where the first set of input port/output port combinations and the second set of input port/output port combinations are selected to not conflict with each other. Packet forwarding for both the first set of input port/output port combinations at a first future time slot and the second set of input port/output port combinations at a second future time slot are simultaneously scheduling at a first scheduler and a second scheduler, respectively, based on the received packet forwarding request information. Reservation information for the first set of input port/output port combinations and the second set of input port/output port combinations is transferred to adjacent schedulers based on a module pattern, where the adjacent schedulers are responsible for scheduling additional sets of input port/output port combinations for the first and second future time slots, respectively.