Patent ID: 8570857

Claim:
A router, operating as a first ring node of a plurality of ring nodes in a communications ring, comprising: a memory to store instructions, a plurality of internet protocol addresses identifying the plurality of ring nodes in the communications ring, and a pre-built backup adjacency; and a controller coupled to the memory, wherein the controller, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising: transmitting a first ring message to a second ring node of the plurality of rings nodes in the communication ring, wherein the second ring node is adjacent to the router and wherein the router is an intermediate ring node between endpoints of the communication ring; detecting failure of the second ring node, wherein, responsive to detecting the failure, the router performs resilient internet protocol ring protocol failure options selected from a group comprising redirecting traffic via a bi-directional ring towards an originating ring node, redirecting the traffic to a backup-ring, and rebuilding the communication ring to a listed next ring node; selecting a third ring node of the plurality of ring nodes in the communication ring according to the failure that is detected, wherein the third ring node is selected based on the pre-built backup adjacency; establishing an adjacency relationship with the third ring node; transmitting a second ring message to the third ring node; modifying a routing information base associated with the communication ring according to signaling information from the resilient internet protocol ring protocol to reflect the adjacency relationship that is established when the router is operating in a network mode; and forwarding standard internet protocol traffic, without modifying the routing information base, when the router is not in the network mode.