Patent ID: 6731597
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
A method of maintaining operation of a signaling interconnection between a first ring network and a separate second ring network, wherein each ring network comprises two communication paths transmitting data in opposite directions and at least two nodes connected to both communication paths, wherein the first and second ring networks are interconnected via two adjacent gateways, each gateway being arranged to receive data from the two communication paths on one ring network, and to transmit the data onto the other ring network, said method comprising the steps of:determining that a first segment between two adjacent nodes of the first network has become inactive; creating a second inactive segment between two adjacent nodes of the second network; transmitting data from a first node in one of the networks to a second node in the other network, wherein the first node transmits the data in a direction away from the inactive segment in the first node's network; receiving the transmitted data in the two adjacent gateways; transmitting the data by each of the adjacent gateways onto the other network, each of the gateways transmitting the data in a direction away from the other gateway; and receiving the transmitted data in the second node from only one of the gateways; wherein, the inactive segment in the other network blocks the data from one of the gateways from reaching the second node.