Abstract: A data communication network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnecting transmission paths in a ring structure arranged to propagate data messages between data systems coupled to the network by the nodes in opposite directions around the network ring structure. An executive node having ring interface units interconnecting ones of the transmission paths is arranged to selectively couple a network control processor with various sectors of the transmission paths to enable the network control processor to control the traffic flow of data messages on the data communication network.

Abstract: A data communication network comprising ring transmission paths (0,1) interconnecting ring interface nodes (2) arranged to propagate data along the ring transmission paths between data systems (6) coupled with the ring interface nodes. Each node has apparatus (210) coupled with ones of the ring transmission paths and data systems for receiving and temporarily storing bytes of data. Receiving structure (211) of the node enabled by predefined ones of data bytes appearing at an input of the receiving and temporarily storing apparatus derives information defining node dispose of the data and generates a disposition available signal.