Reconfigurable ring communications network

Claim 1

A ring communications network comprising: A. n cluster interface units (CIU's), each CIU being coupled to a unidirectional, open loop signal path having a plurality of terminals coupled in series along said loop signal path, said CIU having an input port and an ouput port coupled to said loop signal path, and n is an integer, equal to or greater than 1, B. n ring interface units (RIU's), each RIU being associated with one of said CIU's, C. n pairs of oppositely directed, unidirectional, substantially parallel signal path segments, each of said signal path segment pairs extending between and coupling two associated RIU's, whereby two of said pairs of signal path segments are coupled to each RIU, and wherein the first of said two pairs of signal path segments provides a first inbound path segment to that RIU, and the second of said two pairs provides a second inbound path segment to that RIU and a first outbound path segment to that RIU, and the first pair provides a second outbound path segment to that RIU, wherein each of said RIU's includes: a. means for detecting the presence or absence of signals on said first and second inbound path segments coupled to that RIU and for generating one of a set of control signals comprising a first control signal, a second control signal, a third control signal and a fourth control signal, wherein i. the first control signal is representative of the detection of the presence of a signal on both of said first and second inbound path segments, ii. the second control signal is respresentative of the detection of the presence of a signal on said first inbound path segment and the absence of a signal on said second inbound path segment, iii. the third control signal is representative of the detection of the absence of a signal on said first inbound path segment and the presence of a signal on said second inbound path segment, iv. the fourth control signal is representative of the absence of a signal on both of said first and second inbound path segments, b. means selectively operable in response to said first control signal for coupling said associated CIU input port to said first inbound path segment, and for coupling said associated CIU output port to said first outbound path segment and for coupling said second inbound path segment to said second outbound path segment, c. means selectively operable in response to said second control signal for coupling said associated CIU input port to said first inbound path segment, and for coupling said associated CIU output port to said second outbound path segment, d. means selectively operable in response to said third control signal for coupling said associated CIU input port to said second inbound path segment, and for coupling said associated CIU output port to said first outbound path segment, e. means selectively operable in response to said fourth control signal for directly coupling said associated CIU input port to said associated CIU output port.