Abstract: If either of the MAC processing units in one of the ring connection control circuits receives a MAC frame that includes control information for the redundancy control process related to one of the subrings from that subring, then output of the relevant MAC frame to the transfer processing unit is restricted and the relevant MAC frame is output to the STP processing unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing system to system communication in a switchless non-InfiniBand (IB) compliant environment. IB architected multicast facilities are used to communicate between HCAs in a loop or string topology. Multiple HCAs in the network subscribe to a predetermined multicast address. Multicast messages sent by one HCA destined to the pre-determined multicast address are received by other HCAs in the network. Intermediate TCA hardware, per IB architected multicast support, forward the multicast messages on via hardware facilities, which do not require invocation of software facilities thereby providing performance efficiencies. The messages flow until picked up by an HCA on the network. Architected higher level IB connections, such as IB supported Reliable Connections (RCs) are established using the multicast message flow, eliminating the need for an IB Subnet Manager (SM).

Abstract: A hub-free network system is provided in which control systems can operate normally for mutual communications, even though one of the plurality of control systems malfunctions. Each of the plurality of control systems has a network interface card, and each of the network interface cards has a plurality of communication ports. Each of the network interface cards has a phase structure of ring topology by sequentially connecting a plurality of the communication ports. The plurality of the control systems perform the communications in the phase structure of ring topology, and perform the communications by changing the phase structure of ring topology to a phase structure of bus topology if an error occurs in the communications.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for Fibre Channel interconnection is provided between a plurality of private loop devices through a Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system. In the preferred embodiments, the Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system is a fabric or an intelligent bridging hub. In one aspect of this invention, a Fibre Channel private loop device is connected to two or more Arbitrated Loops containing, or adapted to contain, one or more private loop devices. Preferably, the interconnect system includes a routing filter to filter incoming Arbitrated Loop physical addresses (ALPAs) to determine which Fibre Channel frames must attempt to be routed through the fabric. Numerous topologies of interconnect systems may be achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an input part, a plurality of output parts, and a switching part. The input part inputs a packet and builds at least one forwarding data block including a predetermined destination identifier and packet data extracted from the inputted packet. The switching part includes a forwarding destination storing section for storing, in association with a predetermined destination identifier, a forwarding destination identifier identifying one of the plurality of output parts, and receives the at least one forwarding data block from the input part, and forwards it to one of the plurality of output parts on the basis of forwarding destination storing section which is updated in response to a change in the operating state of the plurality of output parts.

Abstract: A ring control protocol is used to establish a separate control plane for a plurality of physically dual homed devices to enable collections of dual homed devices to be represented by a single pair of addresses into the attached routed Ethernet network. The gateway devices analyze the passing ring control packets to create direct mappings for data packets to the routed Ethernet network. Thus, although the dual homed devices are treated as a ring from a control perspective, the data path is implemented to be direct so that data packets continue to flow directly from the dual homed devices to each of the attached gateway devices. In one embodiment, each of the gateway devices implements a virtual switch and advertises the MAC address of the virtual switch into the routed Ethernet network rather than the MAC addresses of each of the attached Ethernet Switch Units.

Abstract: A system and method for stitching Ethernet networks. Communications are sent from a number of communications networks in one of two or more standards. The communications are converted from the two or more standards to a core standard. The communications are sent across a core network in communication with the number of communications networks utilizing the core standard. The communications are converted from the core standard to one of the two or more standards utilized by each of the number of communications networks receiving the communications in response to the communications reaching the number of communications networks.

Abstract: A ring communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of nodes in which a single one of the nodes is configured for full channel conversion and the remaining nodes, other than the single node, are configured for no channel conversion. Links with no more than W channels couple the nodes. The ring communication network also may include N nodes and links connecting the nodes for carrying data in W channels such that N?2 log2 W?1 where W is a power of 2. Each of the N nodes includes switches connected such that each channel of a first one of the links adjacent to any one of the N nodes can be switched to no more than W?1 channels of another one of the links adjacent any one node.

Abstract: A method for low latency data comprises receiving a data stream comprising data from a data source, receiving the data via one or more queues, where each of the one or more queues is associated with one or more filters adapted to filter the data based at least upon a time predicate to create filtered data. Each of the one or more filters is established by one or more subscribers. The method also comprises receiving a portion of the filtered data that was filtered by a filter established by a particular one or more subscribers, and publishing the portion of the filtered data for the particular one or more subscribers.

Abstract: A method and system for rerouting data over a local area network is provided. The method comprises defining at least one port group associated with a bridging device, each port group including interfaces linked to the bridging device. A plurality of statuses for each port group is defined, the status being dependent on the individual statuses of the interfaces linked to the bridging device. At least one target port associated with each port group, each target port relating to a path for data. The method further comprises defining an action for each status of a port group and monitoring the status of the interfaces forming part of each port group. In response to determining the status of a port group, triggering the predefined action associated with the port group status at one of the port group's target ports.

Abstract: In a mesh network, a network element for providing protection switching in a 1:N shared mesh protection scheme having a first protection path associated with a pair of working paths selected from the N working paths is disclosed.

Abstract: A number of caching agents are interconnected by a ring. A number of trackers of a home agent are pre-allocated to each of the number of caching agents. A tracker provides a permit for a caching agent to issue a request to the home agent. In case a caching agent needs to issue more requests to the home agent, the caching agent may borrow a tracker from another caching agent by sending a message via the ring to other caching agents. A caching agent receiving the borrowing message may either respond the borrowing message by lending a tracker pre-allocated to the corresponding caching agent, or deny the borrowing request by forwarding the borrowing message to another caching agent.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for integrating ring-protocol-compatible devices into network configurations that also include non-ring-protocol-compatible devices are disclosed. One such method, which can be performed by a network node that supports a ring protocol, involves generating a ring protocol packet and sending that ring protocol packet to a neighboring node. The ring protocol packet includes information, and the presence of this information within the packet causes a network device that receives the ring protocol packet to drop the ring protocol packet unless the network device supports a ring protocol. The information can include a reserved address (e.g., in the destination address field of the packet) as well as a ring protocol identifier.

Abstract: A packet transmission system enabling VLAN packet forwarding of the MAC layer at the RPR layer. An address translation table associates with a VLAN identifier a MAC address and a flag showing validity of the VLAN identifier. A flag set valid means that an own node belongs to a VLAN domain with the VLAN identifier. In a case where a received packet is a VLAN packet, a first node searches the address translation table based on the VLAN identifier for a MAC address, creates an RPR packet with the MAC address stored as an RPR destination address, and transmits the RPR packet to an RPR network. A second node searches the address translation table based on the MAC address stored in the RPR packet, and if a corresponding flag is a valid flag, regards the packet as being addressed to a VLAN to which the own node belongs, and transmits the packet to the VLAN after deleting the RPR header therefrom.

Abstract: A network device includes a media access control (MAC) device that transmits a first data stream at a first data rate, the first data stream including first symbols having M bits. A translator converts the first data stream to a second data stream at a second data rate. The translator includes a data appender that appends N bits to the first symbols in the first data stream to generate second symbols having M+N bits. A data duplicator duplicates the second symbols X times to produce the second data stream at the second data rate. M and X are integers greater than one, and N is greater than or equal to zero.

Abstract: Method and improvements for joining wireless mesh networks are provided. In one embodiment, a controller in each network receives a message from a node in its respective network, the message indicating that the respective nodes each received a signal from a node in the other network. Each controller, in response to receiving the respective messages, validates the other network, and responsively (a) directs its respective node to enter a bridging mode and (b) provides its respective node with bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the two nodes. The two nodes then associate with each other using the security key, allowing communications to pass between the two wireless mesh networks.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, node addresses are efficiently detected. For example, a node address is extracted from a packet that is being communicated from a first network to a second network through a network element. An abstraction of the node address is determined. A determination is made as to any previously received packets correspond to the node address by comparing the abstraction to a plurality of abstractions that correspond to node addresses extracted from the plurality of previously received packets. The abstraction is added to the plurality of abstractions if the node address is not associated with any of the previously received packets.

Abstract: A system enabling inter-ring network connection when a plurality of ring networks are connected via a redundancy network, that is, a packet network system configured by a plurality of ring networks and redundancy networks linking the plurality of ring networks. This system virtually defines a plurality of virtual resilient packet ring networks among all of these packet networks and transfers packets on a designated virtual resilient packet ring network. Here, each virtual resilient packet ring network is identified by a virtual resilient packet ring network identifier allocated to each.

Abstract: A method for communication over a bi-directional ring network includes provisioning a virtual private local area network service (VPLS) over the bi-directional ring network. The VPLS includes connection termination points provisioned respectively on a plurality of the nodes so as to connect each of the plurality of the nodes to a second network external to the ring network. As long as the nodes and spans are fully operational, one or more of the connection termination points are maintained in a deactivated state, so that no more than one of the connection termination points to the second network is active. The nodes exchange messages indicative of a failure associated with the bi-directional ring network, causing at least one of the deactivated connection termination points to be activated so as to maintain connectivity among the users of the VPLS without creating a loop in the VPLS via the second network.

Abstract: Provided are a system and article of manufacture for bidirectional data transfer. In certain embodiments a link layer login is sent from a first port to a second port. Subsequently, an application layer login is sent from the first port to the second port to establish a first data path, wherein the first data path is from the first port to the second port. Subsequently, another application layer login is sent from the second port to the first port to establish a second data path, wherein the second data path is from the second port to the first port. In certain other embodiments, a first data path is established from a first port to a second port. A determination is made at the first port, whether the second port has a second data path established from the second port to the first port. An application layer logout is sent from the first port to the second port, in response to determining that the second port has the second data path established from the second port to the first port.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method of a single network device outside of a group of switches connecting via multiple connections to the group of switches. Multiple ports of the single network device are connected with ports of at least one switch within the group, and the connected ports on the at least one switch are mapped to different virtual local area networks configured in the group of switches. A path from each of the connected ports on the at least one switch are replicated through the group of switches. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for provisioning a Resilient Packet Ring (“RPR”) over a Wavelength Division Multiplexing (“WDM”) network is disclosed. A plurality of stations send data packets to each other over a dual ring fiber optic link. The data packets travel over the dual ring fiber optic link at a unique wavelength to distinguish the different data packets. When one station of the plurality of stations detects a location of a failure in the WDM network, the station identifying the location of the failure either notifies all stations of the plurality of stations of the location of the failure or notifies only the stations of the plurality of stations abutting the location of the failure. If all stations of the plurality of stations are notified of the failure, all stations steer data packets sent towards the location of the failure away from the location of the failure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport protocol and associated methods and stack architectures for improving the energy efficiency of transmitting packets through an ad hoc network. The protocol controls transmissions by taking into account per-packet energy limits, per-node loss tolerances, and/or minimum availability rates determined based on path quality measurements collected by packets traversing the network and application reliability requirements associated with various applications.

Abstract: A communication system, network, interface, and port architecture are provided for transporting data across a ring network. A network node operating as a first timing master generates a set of frames, each frame having a preamble, a data field and a time count field, which represents a portion of the time information associated with the set of frames. This time information may include counted time units, like seconds, or a number of generated and transmitted over the network. As the individual frames of a set of frames are generated and sent on the network, they pass other network nodes and are forwarded through the ring bus to the first timing master which receives at least a portion of the set it is still generating. This enables a received time count field to be compared with a transmitted time count field of the same set. If the fields are identical, there is no other timing master on the bus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for Fiber Channel interconnection is provided between a plurality of private loop devices through a Fiber Channel private loop device interconnect system. In the preferred embodiments, the Fiber Channel private loop device interconnect system is a fabric or an intelligent bridging hub. In one aspect of this invention, a Fiber Channel private loop device is connected to two or more Arbitrated Loops containing, or adapted to contain, one or more private loop devices. Preferably, the interconnect system includes a routing filter to filter incoming Arbitrated Loop physical addresses (ALPAs) to determine which Fiber Channel frames must attempt to be routed through the fabric.

Abstract: SONET/SDH ring aggregation with distributed traffic. The system may include a packet-switched fabric adapted to switch TDM and PDU over the same fabric. The system provides logical functionality of one or more of SONET/SDH ADMs, fiber patch panels, coax patch panels, DCSs, and packet switches. Integrated management provides management of remote ADMs attached to multiple SONET/SDH rings, even of ADMs manufactured by different vendors. A management system may provide native termination of OSI over DCC and IP over DCC to provide integration of equipment from various vendors.

Abstract: A ring control protocol is used to establish a separate control plane for a plurality of physically dual homed devices to enable collections of dual homed devices to be represented by a single pair of addresses into the attached routed Ethernet network. The gateway devices analyze the passing ring control packets to create direct mappings for data packets to the routed Ethernet network. Thus, although the dual homed devices are treated as a ring from a control perspective, the data path is implemented to be direct so that data packets continue to flow directly from the dual homed devices to each of the attached gateway devices. In one embodiment, each of the gateway devices implements a virtual switch and advertises the MAC address of the virtual switch into the routed Ethernet network rather than the MAC addresses of each of the attached Ethernet Switch Units.

Abstract: A switch is configured to block packets from being transmitted through designated ports. The switch has port bitmap generator configured to obtain a port bitmap and a table is configured to store a block mask indicating which port the packet should not be transmitted. A block mask lookup is configured to determine the block mask for the packet from the table, and a transmit port bitmap generator is configured to determine which ports the packet should be transmitted using the port bitmap and the block mask.

Abstract: A method for maintaining configurable and dynamically adjustable per-channel local port/bypass port access ratios in the multiple SOCs within an SPI-attached frame-based switch enclosure to improve the access fairness of devices upstream from the destination device is disclosed. A frame-based switch enclosure may include multiple SPI-attached SOCs, each SOC containing a plurality of ports, with one or more devices connected to each port and one virtual channel assigned to each port. Given a frame-based switch enclosure with N SOCs, the local port/bypass port access ratio for a particular SOC and a given virtual channel, where the particular SOC is M hops away from the SOC having a port corresponding to the given virtual channel and M>0, is 1:(N?M?1), while the local port/bypass port access ratio for the SOC (and the given virtual channel) having the port corresponding to the given virtual channel (i.e. the SOC for which M=0) is 0:0.

Abstract: Each span of a communication network, such as a BLSR ring, is assigned a unique span ID. When a node of the network detects a failure in a network span, the node exchanges commands, according to an automatic protection switching (APS) protocol, that request other nodes of the network to switch network traffic from a working span to a protect span. The commands specify the working span by its span ID, without necessarily specifying a source node ID or a destination node ID for the commands. The span ID occupies fewer bits in the commands than bits representing a combination of the source node ID and the destination node ID. Alternatively, the commands specify a destination node ID without a span ID or a source node ID, or the commands specify a source node ID without a span ID or a destination node ID.

Abstract: A design structure is provided for a slotted ring network, in which a node may transmit a non-renewable slot reservation with any unreserved slot. The reservation restricts other nodes from transmitting a new packet in the slot. When the slot returns around the ring to the reserving node, the slot will be available. Preferably, reservation is made responsive to a starvation condition in the reserving node, which may be detected in any of various ways. In an optional enhancement, a reservation identifies the reserving node, and another node on the ring is free to transmit a new packet in the reserved slot if the new packet will reach its destination at or before the reserving node, and thus will not interfere with the reservation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the routing of multimedia communication related signaling in a communication system. In the method a signaling message is received to a first network node. The signaling message provides an identity associated with a user. A hash key is computed from the identity. The hash key is matched to a number of key ranges, each key range being associated with a network node. A second network node is determined by detecting that said hash key belongs to the key range of the second network node. A signaling message is provided to the second network node. Subscriber data associated with the identity is obtained in from the second network node. The signaling message is processed in the second network node based on information in the subscriber data.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for transporting deterministic traffic in a gigabit passive optical network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Optical Line Termination (OLT) for exchanging data traffic in a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) having a controller programmed to generate a timeslot schedule for transport of a desired bandwidth of constant bit rate (CBR) data traffic by selecting one or more timeslots from periodic frame clusters operating according to a GPON Transmission Convergence (GTC) protocol. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In a slotted ring network, a node may transmit a non-renewable slot reservation with any unreserved slot. The reservation restricts other nodes from transmitting a new packet in the slot. When the slot returns around the ring to the reserving node, the slot will be available. Preferably, reservation is made responsive to a starvation condition in the reserving node, which may be detected in any of various ways. In an optional enhancement, a reservation identifies the reserving node, and another node on the ring is free to transmit a new packet in the reserved slot if the new packet will reach its destination at or before the reserving node, and thus will not interfere with the reservation.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for aggregating traffic in a network, such as for wireless backhaul traffic in a cellular communication system. UE device traffic is sent to and from an access bridge, which is one node in an access network formed into a ring topology, and from the access bridge to a core bridge in communication with a core network of the communication system. According to a preferred embodiment, the access bridge and the core bridge each have a LAG component configured according to IEEE 802.1D and IEEE 802.3-2005, and a ring component configured according to IEEE 802.1Q or 802.1AD. In operation, this LAG component load balances communication traffic coming into the bridge node onto one of two VLANs formed of portions of the access network ring. In the event of a fault condition affecting one of the two VLANs, the fault VLAN is removed from the aggregation scheme until the fault condition is alleviated.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium for performing network system diagnostics is provided. The method includes obtaining a respective identification of a first target device and a second target device deployed in a network; iteratively querying neighbor devices of at least one node in a communications path between the first and second target devices, wherein the neighbor devices and the first and second target device may comprise heterogeneous network nodes; and generating a layer 2 path trace that comprises identification of network devices interconnected on a physical path between the first and second target devices. A computer-readable medium includes instructions for execution by a processing system, wherein the instructions are configured to perform the foregoing method. A system includes a data processing system including a processor device for executing a diagnostics engine implemented as a set of computer-executable instructions configured to perform the foregoing method.

Abstract: A CRC calculating unit calculates a DCS code for a DA field to a DATA field and an FCS code for the DA field to a DCS field. A DCS checking unit outputs a DCS check result with a calculated DCS code and a DCS code in the DCS field to a terminal operating unit. An FCS checking unit outputs an FCS check result with a calculated FCS code and an FCS code in the FCS field to an FCS converting unit. The FCS checking unit determines whether to forward through the frame or to forward the frame by storing the calculated FCS code in the FCS field based on the FCS check result. The terminal operating unit determines a processing mode based on the DCS check result.

Abstract: In a transmission network system in which a path is set between a transmission node and a receiving node and which transmits a transmission signal between the nodes, crossconnect settings of the nodes are enabled while personal settings are minimized. A transmission node has a first path-setting-receiving section; transmission-path-setting change sections; and change insertion sections which report information about a change in path setting received by said path-setting-receiving section by inserting the information into a transmission signal to be transmitted from the node to a receiving node. The receiving node has a second path-setting-receiving section and receiving-path-setting change sections for changing path settings of the node on the basis of the information about a change in path setting.

Abstract: A group of data frames from a plurality of communication channels is received. At least one idle frame including a sequence number of a last frame in the group of data frames is then received. A delay period of time is allowed to elapse after receiving the idle frame before sending a negative acknowledgement message, if at least one data frame is missing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for handling persistent reservations. More particularly, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a routing device that routes commands from multiple initiators to a target device can assert reservations for the initiators using its own reservation key rather than a reservation key provided by an initiator. The routing device can further maintain a registry of keys for multiple initiators that access the target device through the routing device. For a persistent reservation command received using a persistent reservation key in the registry, the routing device can forward the command to the target device server using the routing device's key. Thus, reservations for the multiple initiators will be held using the routing device's key. For persistent reservation commands received from initiators registered with the routing device, the routing device can handle conflict resolution and other persistent reservation processing.

Abstract: An audio network system allows any two nodes among a plurality of nodes to transmit and receive audio data to and from each other. The plurality of the nodes are connected in loop so as to allow transmission of the audio data in loop manner through the plurality of the nodes, and the transmission of the audio data is performed in one direction from an upstream node to a downstream node. One of the plurality of the nodes is set as a master node and the other nodes are set as slave nodes. The master node periodically transmits a packet of frame data containing the audio data every sampling period, such that the packet transmitted from the master node circulates through the plurality of the nodes to return to the master node within one or more sampling period. The packet has a specific data length and includes an audio data storage region divided into a plurality of blocks corresponding to a plurality of channels, such that each of the blocks stores audio data of the corresponding channel.

Abstract: A bi-directional line switched mesh includes at least one bi-directional line switched ring (BLSR) sharing a common section with a partial bi-directional line switched ring (PBLSR). The partial bi-directional line switched ring has no working traffic along the common section, but may utilize the protection bandwidth associated with the common section of the BLSR in the event of a span failure of the PBLSR. Both electrical and optical PBLSR networks are also disclosed including methods of operating the asymmetrical ring nodes having unconfigured working ports (spans).

Abstract: In a method for finding a resource and a service conducted in each of relay node relaying a frame, a search table is maintained to register more than one node providing a resource or a service, when an access request including an identification identifying the resource or the service, which the node stops providing, is received, a next transfer node is switched from the node, which stops providing the resource or the service, to an available node providing the resource or the service identified by the identification, by searching for the search table by the identification.

Abstract: In an audio network system connecting a plurality of nodes in a ring form, a master node transmits a packet of frame data regularly every sampling cycle, such that the packet circulates through the nodes during the sampling cycle. The packet is provided with a plurality of regions for containing audio sample data in correspondence to a plurality of channels. A first node reads audio sample data from a particular region of the packet, which corresponds to a particular channel allocated to the first node, and stores the read audio sample data in a buffer. The first node acquires positional information indicating whether a second node which has written the audio sample data into the particular region is located upstream or downstream of the first node. The first node reads and outputs a previous one of the audio sample data from the buffer if the second node is located upstream of the first node, and outputs a current one of the audio sample data if the second node is located downstream of the first node.

Abstract: A new architecture capable of utilizing the existing twisted pair interface between customer premises equipment and an associated serving local switching office is used to provide a vast array of new services to customers. Using an intelligent services director (ISD) at the customer services equipment as an interface for the equipment to an existing twisted cable pair and a facilities management platform (FMP) at the serving local switching office as an interface to various networks and service opportunities, new services such as simultaneous, multiple calls (voice analog or digital), facsimile, Internet traffic and other data can be transmitted and received over the twisted cable pair by using digital subscriber loop transmission schemes. The new services include but are not limited to videophone, utility meter reading and monitoring, broadcasting and multicasting.

Abstract: A processor bus has several data processing units, each connected to a line system which acts as a bus having bus segments connected in a separable manner through connection units. Functional units arranged on the bus carry out the information thereof. The functional units may carry out exchanges independently of each other. Conversely, functional units in different groups may carry out information exchanges simultaneously. The connection units define combinatory connections of the signal lines, with physical connections between the connection units provided by the bus segments. The connection units can carry out information exchanges with as many connected functional units as desired. The information path from a functional unit to selected functional units can be multiplexed or switched by toggling simultaneous connections to several functional units or by bridging non-participating functional units.

Abstract: A virtual ring representing a community of interest is constructed from an interconnected mesh of nodes in a packet network. The virtual ring instantiates ring labels in respective forwarding tables for each node in the virtual ring and then advertises the ring labels to all other nodes in the virtual ring, for example by flooding BGP advertisements. Data packets entering the ring are assigned a ring label which is then stripped off when exiting the ring. The data packets are forwarded around the virtual ring using the ring labels. The virtual ring can operate using BGP/LDP Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS). Multiple virtual rings can be bridged together using a central hub or alternatively multiple virtual rings can be redundantly bridged together using tandem hubs.

Abstract: A system and method for routing packet traffic is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a router having a routing element that routes packet traffic according to Internal Gateway Protocol (IGP) weights that prevent multicast packet traffic and unicast packet traffic from occupying a common unidirectional link. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In a transmission network system in which a path is set between a transmission node and a receiving node and which transmits a transmission signal between the nodes, crossconnect settings of the nodes are enabled while personal settings are minimized. A transmission node has a first path-setting-receiving section; transmission-path-setting change sections; and change insertion sections which report information about a change in path setting received by said path-setting-receiving section by inserting the information into a transmission signal to be transmitted from the node to a receiving node. The receiving node has a second path-setting-receiving section and receiving-path-setting change sections for changing path settings of the node on the basis of the information about a change in path setting.

Abstract: A ring communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of nodes in which a single one of the nodes is configured for full channel conversion and the remaining nodes, other than the single node, are configured for no channel conversion. Links with no more than W channels couple the nodes. The ring communication network may include N nodes and links connecting the nodes for carrying data in W channels such that N?2 log2 W?1, where W is a power of 2. Each of the N nodes includes switches connected such that each channel of a first one of the links adjacent to any one of the N nodes can be switched to no more than W?1 channels of another one of the links adjacent to any one node.