Patent ID: 7054264

Claim:
A communication device for interconnection of first and second networks, of which at least the first network is a ring network over which traffic is transmitted in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, the device comprising: first and second interconnect modules, each such module adapted to receive outgoing data traffic on the first network and to convey the outgoing data traffic to the second network, and to receive incoming data traffic from the second network and to convey the incoming data traffic to the first network, the first and second interconnect modules being in mutual communication so that while both of the modules are operational, the first module is configured to receive from the first network only the outgoing data traffic transmitted in the clockwise direction, while the second module is configured to receive from the first network only the outgoing data traffic transmitted in the counterclockwise direction, and so that when a fault occurs in one of the first and second modules, the other module receives a fault indication, causing the other module to receive substantially all of the outgoing data traffic and to convey the outgoing data traffic to the second network, wherein the first network is configured to carry the data traffic at a predetermined maximum data rate in each of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and wherein each of the modules is interfaced to receive the outgoing data traffic at a data rate not substantially greater than the predetermined maximum.