The present invention is directed to data communication. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides switching mechanism for choosing between redundant communication links. Data received from a first set of communication links are processed to have alignment markers removed, and first figure of merit value is determined based on the data without alignment markers. Similarly, a second figure of merit value is determined for the data received from the second set of communication links. A switch selects between the first set of communication links and the second set of communication links based on their respective figure of merit values. Alignment markers are inserted into the data transmitted through the selected set of data links. There are other embodiments as well.

The present invention is directed to data communication. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides switching mechanism for choosing between redundant communication links. Data received from a first set of communication links are processed to have alignment markers removed, and first figure of merit value is determined based on the data without alignment markers. Similarly, a second figure of merit value is determined for the data received from the second set of communication links. A switch selects between the first set of communication links and the second set of communication links based on their respective figure of merit values. Alignment markers are inserted into the data transmitted through the selected set of data links. There are other embodiments as well.

Reconfigurable computing clusters, compute nodes within reconfigurable computing clusters, and methods of operating a reconfigurable computing cluster are disclosed. A reconfigurable computing cluster includes an optical circuit switch, and a plurality of computing assets, each of the plurality of computing assets connected to the optical circuit switch by two or more bidirectional fiber optic communications paths.

Examples described herein relate to a network entity on a ring network. In an example, a method includes receiving a first packet by a first network entity via a ring network. It is determined from the first packet that the ring network has a plurality of management entities each claiming a respective network entity. Based on the ring network having the plurality of management entities each claiming the respective network entity, the first network entity is transitioned from an unclaimed state to a dummyclaim state, and the first network entity is isolated from a portion of the ring network.

In a system, a plurality of controlled devices, including a first controlled device and a second controlled device, and a main control device configured to control the plurality of controlled devices are connected via a network. The main control device includes a communicator configured to transmit and receive a data frame including a plurality of data areas via the network in a predetermined cycle, and a setter configured to set a structure of the data frame. The setter has a function of setting the same data area in the data frame as a data area in which the first controlled device should write data and a data area from which the second controlled device should read data.

A communication system wherein, in each node, data transmission blocks transmit transmission data, and data relay blocks relay the transmission data from another node in a prior stage as relay data. Output switching units switch between outputting the transmission data and outputting the relay data as output data.

A communication system wherein, in each node, data transmission blocks transmit transmission data, and data relay blocks relay the transmission data from another node in a prior stage as relay data. Output switching units switch between outputting the transmission data and outputting the relay data as output data.

Reconfigurable computing clusters, compute nodes within reconfigurable computing clusters, and methods of operating a reconfigurable computing cluster are disclosed. A reconfigurable computing cluster includes an optical circuit switch, and a plurality of computing assets, each of the plurality of computing assets connected to the optical circuit switch by two or more bidirectional fiber optic communications paths.

Example data transmission methods and apparatus are disclosed. One example method includes receiving a first data packet. When a first ring node detects that a link between the first ring node and a second ring node on a first ring port is faulty, it is determined whether the received first data packet is a wrapped data packet. If the first data packet is a non-wrapped data packet, a second ring port is determined based on the first ring port, the first data packet is wrapped into a wrapped data packet to generate a second data packet, and the second data packet is forwarded through the second ring port.

Example data transmission methods and apparatus are disclosed. One example method includes receiving a first data packet. When a first ring node detects that a link between the first ring node and a second ring node on a first ring port is faulty, it is determined whether the received first data packet is a wrapped data packet. If the first data packet is a non-wrapped data packet, a second ring port is determined based on the first ring port, the first data packet is wrapped into a wrapped data packet to generate a second data packet, and the second data packet is forwarded through the second ring port.