The handling of data transfers in a network with a ring topology

A central control entity configured to control a topology change in a network having a ring topology with a plurality of ring nodes, via which data packets of various data transfers are transmitted to their corresponding destination nodes, the central control entity comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive information about a topology change of the ring topology of the network from one of the ring nodes,
• a database containing, for each of the ring nodes, information about possible connections of each ring node to other ring nodes of the network and about a status of the possible connections,
• a control unit configured to determine which of the data transfers are affected by the topology change, configured to determine, for each of the affected data transfers, a new path through the network, and configured to determine new switching instructions for ring nodes that are affected by the new paths determined for the affected data transfers,
• a transmitter transmitting the new switching instructions to the affected ring nodes,
• wherein the control unit is further configured to determine the number of ring nodes in the ring and to generate a ring lifetime that corresponds to the number of ring nodes, wherein the transmitter transmits the ring lifetime to the ring nodes.

A method for controlling, by a central control entity, a topology change in a network having a ring topology with a plurality of ring nodes via which data packets of various data transfers are transmitted to their corresponding destination nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving information about a topology change of the ring topology of the network,
• determining which of the data transfers are affected by the topology change,
• determining, for each of the affected data transfers, a new path through the network,
• determining new switching instructions for ring nodes that are affected by the new paths determined for the affected data transfers,
• transmitting the new switching instructions to the affected ring nodes, determining the number of ring nodes in the ring,
• generating a ring lifetime that corresponds to the number of ring nodes, and
• transmitting the ring lifetime to the ring nodes.