Patent ID: 6956816

Claim:
In a network having a router coupled to a multiplexor via a first multiplexor line and a redundant router coupled to the multiplexor via a second multiplexor line, the multiplexor further coupled to a network ring, a method comprising: transmitting by the redundant router a signal to the router through a communications medium coupling the router and the redundant router; initiating by the redundant router a switch from the router communicating with the multiplexor via the first multiplexor line to the redundant router communicating with the multiplexor via the second multiplexor line based at least in part on the redundant router not receiving a response via the communications medium to the signal; and transmitting by the redundant router a request signal to a neighbor device coupled to the network ring, the request signal transmitted via the second multiplexor line, the multiplexor and the network ring, the request signal indicating an identifier of the redundant router; transmitting by the neighbor device a response signal to the redundant router via the network ring and multiplexor, the response signal indicating the identifier of the redundant router; transmitting by the multiplexor the response signal to the router via the first multiplexor line and the redundant router via the second multiplexor line; receiving at the router via the first multiplexor line the response signal and detecting a switch to communication with the multiplexor from the router via the first multiplexor line to the redundant router via the second multiplexor line based on the presence of the identifier of the redundant router in the response signal.