Apparatus and methods for the communication and fault management of data in a multipath data network

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.

In a data network for communicating data between a plurality of nodes, a method of communicating a data stream to circumvent a fault in the data network, the method comprising:

• receiving a data stream at one of the plurality of nodes, wherein the data stream is simultaneously communicated over a primary path and a secondary path in the data network;
• parsing the data stream for a control stream, the control stream comprising state information indicative of a fault in the data network, wherein a fault comprises a loss of data over the primary path;
• and
• if the state information indicates that the one of the plurality is downstream from the fault, then:
• transmitting the data stream to an adjacent node in the data network over the secondary path;
• receiving a return data stream from the adjacent node over the primary path;
• and
• passing through the return data stream over the primary path to circumvent the fault.