Abstract: Within a cell-oriented communication network, a switching equipment (CCa) located at the start of a path pair duplicates a message cell stream supplied thereto for redirection. The message cell streams resulting therefrom are separately supplied to a switching equipment (CCb) located at the end of the path pair via an active path (AP) and via an alternate path (EP) of the path pair allocated thereto. A decentralized synchronization means (SY) or, respectively, a plurality of decentralized synchronization means (SY1, SY2 or, respectively, SY3, SY4) is or, respectively, are provided therein, a synchronization of the two message cell streams ensuing therein while initially forwarding the message cell stream of the active path. After such a synchronization, only the message cell stream of the alternate path is then forwarded.

Abstract: Within a cell-oriented communication network (ATMN), a message cell stream supplied to a switching equipment (CCa) located at the start of a path pair is duplicated by the switching equipment in response to a request. The two message cell streams resulting therefrom are supplied to a central synchronization device (AS) allocated to the switching equipment (CCb) located at the end of the path pair, being supplied thereto separately via an active path (AP) and via an alternate path (EP) allocated thereto. In the synchronization means, a synchronization of the two message cell streams ensues, while the message cell stream of the active path is being initially forwarded. After this, only the message cell stream of the alternate path is forwarded, upon disconnection of the central synchronization means from the transmission path.

Abstract: In a cell-oriented communication network (ATMN), respective control cells are inserted at predetermined time intervals into two message cell streams redundantly transmitted via a path pair (EP,AP). The control cells respectively contain a sequence number that varies continuously from control cell to control cell. The appearance of control cells is separately monitored for the two message cell streams at the end of the path pair. Which of the two message cell streams is the leading message cell stream is thereby first determined on the basis of the sequence numbers appearing in the message cell streams. The leading message cell stream is then delayed until the appearance of identical sequence numbers in the message cell streams.