Abstract: Communication modules are coupled in a communication ring and are operable to send and receive data from peripheral devices. The modules are operable to send and receive data streams on paths of the ring, and each module is operable, responsive to receiving a predetermined initialization signal, to operate as a master for initially blocking data in the first path and initially sending a block signal to a neighboring module downstream in the second path. The modules are operable, responsive to receiving the block signal in one of the paths, to block data in that one of the paths, so that responsive to initialization of one of the modules as a master, the master and the neighboring module create an inactive virtual link therebetween in order to prevent data from propagating around the ring more than once.

Abstract: Sets of communication modules each have a pair of ring-channel ports for a ring-configured channel in a network, a peripheral device port for peripheral device data, and dual-ring ports for an inter-ring channel for the pair of modules. First and second ones of a set of communication modules send duplicate data packets on their respective first and second rings. Responsive to duplicate data packets arriving via the rings at first and second modules in a next set within a predetermined time interval of one another, each of the next modules transmits its ring-channel received data packet out a downstream ring-channel port. Responsive to one of the duplicate packets arriving at the DRP of a module a predetermined time interval before arriving at a ring-channel port of the module, the module sends the corresponding packet received at the DRP out its other ring-channel port and its peripheral device port.

Abstract: Communication modules are coupled in a communication ring and are operable to send and receive data from peripheral devices. The modules are operable to send and receive data streams on paths of the ring, and each module is operable, responsive to receiving a predetermined initialization signal, to operate as a master for initially blocking data in the first path and initially sending a block signal to a neighboring module downstream in the second path. The modules are operable, responsive to receiving the block signal in one of the paths, to block data in that one of the paths, so that responsive to initialization of one of the modules as a master, the master and the neighboring module create an inactive virtual link therebetween in order to prevent data from propagating around the ring more than once.

Abstract: Sets of communication modules each have a pair of ring-channel ports for a ring-configured channel in a network, a peripheral device port for peripheral device data, and dual-ring ports for an inter-ring channel for the pair of modules. First and second ones of a set of communication modules send duplicate data packets on their respective first and second rings. Responsive to duplicate data packets arriving via the rings at first and second modules in a next set within a predetermined time interval of one another, each of the next modules transmits its ring-channel received data packet out a downstream ring-channel port. Responsive to one of the duplicate packets arriving at the DRP of a module a predetermined time interval before arriving at a ring-channel port of the module, the module sends the corresponding packet received at the DRP out its other ring-channel port and its peripheral device port.