Breakdown and decoupling tolerant communications network, a data path switching device and a corresponding method

The invention relates to a method for tolerating the breakdown and/or decoupling of at least one network node in a communication network used for controlling and/or adjusting the movement of a plurality of machine parts, for example the rotation bodies in a printing machines, machine tools and other production machines, wherein the network is operated according to a closed single or multiple ring structure, in which each node communicates with the transmitter or the port of a first adjacent node by means of a receiver or a first port and with the receiver or the port of a second adjacent network node by means of a transmitter or a second port, the closed ring structure is preserved in the case of the breakdown or decoupling of at least one node, at least one network node is coupled to the network by means of a data path switching device which is actuated, in the case of the breakdown or decoupling of said node, in such a way that the communicating nodes, which exist in the network and are arranged next to each other in the ring structure, interact in communication by means of the port or respective transmitter thereof after the breakdown or decoupling.