In a communication system including multiple ring networks, each ring network comprises: a host node serving as an upper controller for the other nodes in the own ring network, the host node being configured to be capable of communicating with another ring network; and a switch provided in the ring network and having multiple regular ports and multiple redundant ports, wherein the redundant communication ports of the switch in each ring network are connected to the redundant communication ports of the switch in the other ring network via redundant communication lines. When a communication error is detected in one ring network, the host node of the one ring network controls the switch of the own ring network and the switch of another ring network such that at least one node of the own ring network is incorporated in the other ring network via the switches and the redundant communication lines.

Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to improved circuit and system architectures for identifying and managing operating statuses and faults in a system having multiple processing circuit chips. Each of the multiple processing circuit chips includes multiple signal rings, one to provide internal communications among circuitry within the circuit chip, and another with inter-chip communications circuitry to provide communications with neighboring circuit chips. One of the multiple processing circuit chips further includes external communications circuitry to provide communications with an external host.

A communications network and method for operating the communications network that includes ring devices that are networked to one another in a ring topology, where the ring devices participate in a ring redundancy process in which an administrating ring device regularly sends test packets over the communications network, which received in sequence by other ring devices and successively forwarded by these devices back to the administrating ring device so as to detect faults in the communications network, where a transmission delay of a test packet along the ring topology because of interfering packets within the ring topology is prevented by synchronizing the ring devices and processing at least parts of a data traffic schedule in accordance with the 802.1Qbv standard in the ring redundancy process applied, and where transmission of the test packets is scheduled and controlled such that the packets are forwarded to the ring devices substantially without delay.

A communication device includes a master station, a ring-type transmission line whose start point and end point are connected to the master station, and a plurality of slave stations connected to the ring-type transmission line in parallel. The master station transmits a signal and feeds electric power from both of the start point and the end point of the ring-type transmission line. Each of the slave stations includes an impedance variable element connected to the ring-type transmission line in parallel, and values are set to the impedance variable elements in accordance with the connection positions of the slave stations.

Examples herein involve dividing a ring protection network into multiple ring protection networks. Examples include detecting a disconnection in a ring protection network, determining whether an owner of the ring protection network is in a new ring protection network divided from the ring protection network, and establishing an owner of the new ring protection network based on whether the owner of the ring protection network is in the new ring protection network.

Described herein include systems, methods, and apparatuses for the remote medium access control (MAC) in communication networks, for example, in cable networks. In particular, the disclosure describes a network architecture including a switch configured to communicate with remote MAC layer devices over first connections (e.g., digital fiber connections); the remote MAC layer devices configured to communicate with remote physical (PHY) layer devices over second connections (e.g., second digital fiber connections); and the remote PHY layer device configured to communicate with customer premise equipment devices over a third connection (e.g., analog coaxial connections).

Embodiments are directed to a packet capture ring that provides a single network tap for packet capture and a series of processors (or appliances) for handling serialization and search request processing in a confederated and highly scalable manner. One such appliance (a primary appliance) maintains a tap port to the network. Each packet capture appliance has a locally attached repository that stores raw packets and a juxtaposed index that allows for retrieval of those packets. The primary appliance sends a single copy of encapsulated packets in opposite directions around the ring to its descendants. A designation is made across the system as to a currently designated appliance for servicing requests for indexing and storage of captured packets. This current designation shifts from appliance to appliance in the system, as a previously designated appliance has its storage capacity filled.

Embodiments are directed to a method of implementing a packet capture ring. The packet capture ring includes a plurality of appliances, and the plurality of appliances includes a first appliance and a second appliance. The first appliance and the second appliance are both attached to a network tap, and the first appliance works as a master appliance. The master appliance ingests packets from the network tap, encapsulates the packets and forwards encapsulated packets in the packet capture ring. The method includes: detecting, by the second appliance, a failure of the first appliance; working, by the second appliance, as the master appliance; and removing, by the second appliance, the first appliance from a forwarding designation list.

A communication device that performs bidirectional multiplex communication between a plurality of slave communication devices and the communication device is provided with: a first port connected to one end section of a transmission line to which the slave communication devices are connected; a second port connected to the other end section of the transmission line; and a current detection unit connected to the first port and the second port. An operation voltage is supplied from the communication device to the slave communication devices, a change of the quantity of a current flowing in the first port and/or the second port is detected by means of the current detection unit, and on the basis of the current quantity change, occurrence of disconnection in the transmission line is detected.

A network interface of a network user having at least one physical interface for connecting the network interface to a network interface of a different network user, at least one data selector, which is connected to the physical interface and which is suitable for receiving data from the physical interface and sending data to the physical interface, and at least one data switch, which is connected to the data selector and which is suitable for receiving data from the data selector and sending data to the data selector.