Abstract: The communication device (KE) has a coupling arrangement (ASN) with at least a number N of active line assemblies (BG 1 to BG N), which are respectively connected to a transmission line (LTG 1 to LTG N) and, together with an additional standby line assembly (BG N+1), form a “1:N” redundancy group. In such a “1:N” redundancy group, line-specific switches (S) and selection devices (SEL 1:N) are designed and arranged in such a manner that the selection devices can be replaced without adversely affecting the normal operation of the communication device.

Abstract: An ATM communication system (ATMK) has communication equipment (K1, K2, K3) that are arranged in a ring circuit system (RS) formed of two ring circuits (RING0, RING1) operated in opposite directions. Ring loops can thereby be established via the communication equipment in order to be able to switch from an active path to an alternate path as needed in the transmission of message cells. In the respective communication equipment, the message cells are respectively preceded by an internal cell header wherein, among other things, a path-associated sequence number is contained. Over and above this, the sequence number anticipated next or, respectively, the sequence number that most recently appeared is retained and path-associated in the respective communication equipment.

Abstract: In the method a generally unordered cell stream (ICS) is supplied to a generally centrally administered cell memory (CM) and is intermediately stored therein. Path identifier/sequence number signals (VPI/SN) are derived from the cells of the supplied cell stream and are supplied to a resequencing controller (RC) wherein addresses (ADR) for addressing the cell memory (CM) are formed such that an ordered cell stream (OOCS) arises at the output of the cell memory. The method is used in ATM switching technology for switching networks wherein cells of a connection traverse the switching network with different running times.