Communication network and method for operating a communication network

1. A communication network having a multiplicity of network devices, comprising:

a plurality N of virtual networks that are implemented in the communication network such that each of the multiplicity of network devices is coupled to the communication network via at least two virtual networks; and

a plurality of network segments, wherein each of the plurality of network segments has an associated subset of the multiplicity of network devices, wherein each network device arranged at a marginal region of a network segment has N limiting units, wherein a respective instance of the N limiting units is associated with a respective instance of the plurality of N virtual networks and is set up to limit data reception of data associated with the respective virtual network to a threshold value for the data transmission rate, which threshold value is predetermined for the respective virtual network;

wherein the virtual networks are implemented in the communication network so as to prevent overshooting of the threshold value for the data transmission rate at a limiting unit of a network segment on account of reception of data from another network segment.

2. The communication network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the N threshold values of the N limiting units of one of the multiplicity of network devices is lower than a maximum data transmission rate of the communication network.

3. The communication network as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one network device comprises a control device and a switch device, coupled to the control device, that has at least one reception port and one transmission port for sending and receiving data via the communication network at a maximum data transmission rate, wherein the N limiting units are associated with the reception ports and are each set up to limit the data reception of data associated with the respective virtual network at the respective associated reception port to the threshold value for the data transmission rate that is specific to the respective virtual network.

4. The communication network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein exclusively the multiplicity of network devices arranged at a marginal region of a network segment are each equipped with the N limiting units.

5. The communication network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the multiplicity of network devices comprise at least two network devices that are redundant with regard to a functionality of the at least two network devices, further wherein the subsets are in a form such that each of the subsets has at most one of the redundant network devices associated with it.

6. The communication network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the subsets are disjunct subsets.

7. The communication network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of N virtual networks are implemented in the communication network such that each of the network devices is coupled to the communication network via at least two virtual networks and no virtual network of the plurality of N virtual networks has a ring topology.

8. The communication network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of N virtual networks are implemented in the communication network such that a maximum link transmission rate is determined for each communication path between a transmission port and a reception port, wherein the sum of the N threshold values of the N limiting units is less than or equal to the maximum link transmission rate of the associated reception port.

9. The communication network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data are associated with at least two priority classes, wherein the N limiting units are set up to limit exclusively the data reception of a higher priority class.

10. The communication network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication network is an Ethernet network.

11. The communication network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the multiplicity of network devices are each an individual FPGA, ASIC, IC chip or hardwired microcircuit.

12. The communication network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication network comprises the multiplicity of the network devices and a number of coupling switch devices, wherein the number of coupling switch devices are each coupled to the communication network exclusively via a single virtual network.

13. A method for forming a communication network having a multiplicity of network devices, comprising:

implementing a plurality N of virtual networks in the communication network such that each of the multiplicity of network devices is coupled to the communication network via at least two virtual networks; and

arranging the multiplicity of network devices in a plurality of network segments, wherein each of the plurality of network segments is allocated a subset of the multiplicity of network devices, wherein each network device arranged at a marginal region of a network segment is equipped with N limiting units, wherein a respective instance of the N limiting units is allocated to a respective instance of the N virtual networks and is set up to limit data reception of data associated with the respective virtual network to a threshold value for the data transmission rate, which threshold value is predetermined for the respective virtual network;

wherein the virtual networks are implemented in the communication network so as to prevent overshooting of the threshold value for the data transmission rate at a limiting unit of a network segment on account of reception of data from another network segment.

14. A computer program product that prompts the performance of a method as claimed in claim 13 on one or more program controlled devices.