Method for operating a communication network, and network arrangement

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores instructions for operation by program controlled devices to operate a communication network for network devices that are coupled to the communication network, wherein a respective network device comprises a switch device with a first control device and a second control device that are coupled to the switch device, and wherein the switch device comprises a respective reception port and transmission port for each of the first control device and the second control device for sending and receiving data via the communication network, the instructions comprising:

• producing first data by the first control device and second data by the second control device, wherein the first data and the second data are linked to one another by a coding comprising a bit inversion, such that the first data is obtained from the second data and the second data is obtained from the first data by the bit inversion;
• sending the first data from the first control device via the switch device to the second control device and sending the second data from the second control device via the switch device to the first control device;
• sending the first data and the second data via a first communication path in a first direction from the transmission port of the switch device for the first control device to the reception port of the switch device for the second control device;
• and
• sending the first data and the second data via a second communication path in a second direction from the transmission port of the switch device for the second control device to the reception port of the switch device for the first control device, the second communication path flowing through a same number of network devices as the first communication path,
• wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction, and
• wherein the first data and the second data on the first communication path and the second communication path pass through same network devices in opposite directions and in reverse order to return to the first control device and the second control device.

A non-transitory data storage medium having a stored computer program executable by a device to operate a communication network for network devices that are coupled to the communication network, wherein a respective network device comprises a switch device with a first control device and a second control device that are coupled to the switch device, and wherein the switch device comprises a respective reception port and transmission port for each of the first control device and the second control device for sending and receiving data via the communication network, the computer program including commands comprising:

• producing first data by the first control device and second data by the second control device, wherein the first data and the second data are linked to one another by a coding comprising a bit inversion, such that the first data is obtained from the second data and the second data is obtained from the first data by the bit inversion;
• sending the first data from the first control device via the switch device to the second control device and sending the second data from the second control device via the switch device to the first control device;
• sending the first data and the second data via a first communication path in a first direction from the transmission port of the switch device for the first control device to the reception port of the switch device for the second control device;
• and
• sending the first data and the second data via a second communication path that is the same as the first communication path but in a second direction opposite the first direction, from the transmission port of the switch device for the second control device to the reception port of the switch device for the first control device,
• wherein the first data and the second data on the first communication path and the second communication path pass through same network devices in opposite directions and in reverse order to return to the first control device and the second control device.

A network arrangement comprising:

• a plurality of network devices that are coupled to a communication network, wherein a respective network device of the plurality of network devices comprises a switch device with a first control device and a second control device that are coupled to the switch device, and wherein the switch device comprises a respective reception port and transmission port for each of the first control device and the second control device for sending and receiving data via the communication network, and
• wherein the network devices are configured to:
• produce first data by the first control device and second data by the second control device, wherein the first data and the second data are linked to one another by a coding comprising a bit inversion, such that the first data is obtained from the second data and the second data is obtained from the first data by the bit inversion;
• send the first data from the first control device via the switch device to the second control device and sending the second data from the second control device via the switch device to the first control device;
• send the first data and the second data via a first communication path in a first direction from the transmission port of the switch device for the first control device to the reception port of the switch device for the second control device;
• and
• send the first data and the second data via a second communication path in a second direction from the transmission port of the switch device for the second control device to the reception port of the switch device for the first control device, the second communication path flowing through a same number of network devices as the first communication path
• wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction, and
• wherein the first data and the second data on the first communication path and the second communication path pass through same network devices in opposite directions and in reverse order to return to the first control device and the second control device.