| US 7,515,531 B2 | ||
| Apparatus and methods for the communication and fault management of data in a multipath data network | ||
| Nishith Sinha, Mableton, Ga. (US); Steven F. Baker, Alpharetta, Ga. (US); and James Scott Wineinger, Ames, Iowa (US) | ||
| Assigned to Cox Communications, Atlanta, Ga. (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 17, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/919,743. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0039291 A1, Feb. 23, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01R 31/08 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 370—224 [370/228; 370/244] | 24 Claims |
| 1. An apparatus for communicating a plurality of data streams in a multipath data network, the apparatus comprising:
a first receiver operative to receive data from a first data stream communicated over a primary path in the data network;
a second receiver operative to receive data from a second data stream communicated over a secondary path in the data network;
a transmitter operative to transmit data received from a node in the data network;
a switch operative to receive data from the first receiver and the second receiver and send data to the transmitter; and
an intelligent splitter operative to:
receive the data streams communicated over the primary and secondary paths in the data network;
send the first and second data streams to the first and second receivers;
receive a modified data steam from the transmitter;
simultaneously transmit the modified data stream over the primary and secondary paths in the data network;
parse the data stream for a control stream, the control stream comprising state information indicative of a fault in the data
network; and
when the state information indicates that the node is downstream from the fault:
send the second data stream to the second receiver;
transmit the modified data stream over the secondary path; and
pass through a return data stream over the primary path.
|