Patent ID: 6111853
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
A method of transmitting information between a number of pieces of communication equipment or nodes in a communication network, the pieces of communication equipment each having receive and transmit ports for inputting and outputting information to and from the network and being arranged in a ring configuration of first and second ring paths operated in respective first and second opposite directions so as to provide path protection of said information transmitted between said pieces of equipment, the pieces of equipment dividing said ring into ring sections, a selected said piece of equipment providing a head end for the ring, wherein the method comprises the steps of:configuring the ring so as to provide first and second disjoint loops each extending around the ring in respective first and second directions and having a gap therebetween in a selected said ring section between two adjacent pieces of equipment;detecting the occurrence of a fault in a said ring section; andreconfiguring the ring by reconfiguring said first and second loops so as to move said gap between said first and second loops from said selected ring section to coincide with the ring section in which the fault has been detected so as to maintain said path protection around said ring in opposite directions, said first and second loops being operatively connected to the receive and transmit ports of said head end piece of equipment.