Patent ID: 7345993

Claim:
A node in a communication network, the network having at least three nodes with connections between the nodes, the network being arranged to establish connections at least according to the topology of a ring with nodes at successive positions along the ring and two-way point to point communication connections between pairs of the nodes at successive positions along the ring, each said nodes comprising: connection for input function receiving, from outside the nodes, external data addressed to a further one of the nodes; a split unit for splitting the external data into a first and second, mutually distinct part and sending the first and second part in a first and second, mutually opposite, direction along the ring respectively; a merge unit for receiving a first and second part of internal data addressed to the particular one of the nodes from the first and second direction and merging the first and second part of the internal data; a forwarding/inserting unit for forwarding parts of internal data not addressed to the particular one of the nodes from the first or second direction to the second and first direction respectively; and a control unit for monitoring whether there is a failure of transmission along the first or second direction and, if there is a failure along one of the directions, suppressing the split function, all of the data being sent in a non-failing one of the directions.