Reversing direction of packet transmission in a network having a ring topology

A method configured to be executed in a network in which multiple nodes are arranged in a ring, the method comprising the steps of:

• discovering a first peer node arranged in a first direction around the ring with respect to a node;
• discovering a second peer node arranged in a second direction around the ring with respect to the node;
• upon determining that data packets are propagating in the first direction and communication with the first peer node is interrupted, initiating a direction reversal procedure to propagate the data packets in the second direction;
• determining whether the second peer node is operational and supports the direction reversal procedure;
• and
• wherein the second peer node is operational and unable to perform the direction reversal procedure, establish a bypass tunnel using Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) or Segment Routing through the second peer node to tunnel the data packets through the second peer node to a next node in the second direction without requiring the second peer node to perform the direction reversal procedure, wherein the bypass tunnel terminates at a next node beyond the second peer in the second direction,
• wherein the second peer node is unable to perform the direction reversal procedure due to the second peer node being operating properly but not equipped to perform the direction reversal procedure, wherein the second peer node is bypassed via the tunnel, and wherein determining whether the second peer node supports the direction reversal procedure comprises receiving a capability indication flag from the second peer node during convergence at least when the second peer node supports the direction reversal.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium stored on a node arranged in a network having a ring topology in which multiple nodes are arranged in a ring, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having logic configured to enable one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• discovering a first peer node arranged in a first direction around the ring with respect to a node;
• discovering a second peer node arranged in a second direction around the ring with respect to the node;
• upon determining that data packets are propagating in the first direction and communication with the first peer node is interrupted, initiate a direction reversal procedure to propagate the data packets in the second direction, wherein the direction reversal procedure comprises:
• determining whether the second peer node is operational and supports the direction reversal procedure;
• in response to the second peer node being operational and supports the direction reversal procedure, performing the direction reversal procedure to propagate the data packets in the second direction;
• and
• in response to the second peer node being operational and unable to perform the direction reversal procedure, establish a bypass tunnel using Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) or Segment Routing through the second peer node to tunnel the data packets through the second peer node to a next node in the second direction without requiring the second peer node to perform the direction reversal procedure, wherein the bypass tunnel terminates at a next node beyond the second peer in the second direction,
• wherein the second peer node being unable to perform the direction reversal procedure includes the second peer node operating properly but not equipped to perform the direction reversal procedure, wherein the second peer node is bypassed via the tunnel, and wherein determining whether the second peer node supports the direction reversal procedure comprises receiving a capability indication flag from the second peer node during convergence at least when the second peer node supports the direction reversal.