Non-disruptive network topology modification

1. A method for non-disruptively modifying a network having a control node and a plurality of additional non-control nodes physically connected in a ring, comprising:

receiving a first indication from a first non-control node of the plurality of additional non-control nodes that the first non-control node will be physically removed from the network, the first indication having been generated by the first non-control node in response to actuation by a user of a topology change notification mechanism implemented as a physical actuation mechanism on the first node;

in response to the receipt of the first indication, modifying data flow in the network to avoid data flow through the first non-control node while maintaining the data flow in the network;

receiving a second indication that the first non-control node has been physically removed and that the ring has been reconnected; and

resuming the data flow over the ring network in response to receiving the second indication.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein modifying the data flow further includes wrapping nodes adjacent to the non-control first node.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein non-control nodes adjacent the first non-control node includes a second non-control node and a third non-control node.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the second indication is generated by the second or third non-control node.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control node comprises a headend with the function of controlling the network data flow.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first indication is received using the ring.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein network nodes are connected by a four-fiber cable.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the four-fiber cable includes first and second collection fibers and first and second distribution fibers.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of additional non-control network nodes has a different manual informing mechanism installed inside to generate indications of modifying the network.

10. A method for non-disruptively modifying a ring network having a control node and a plurality of additional non-control network nodes physically connected in a ring topology, comprising:

receiving a first indication from a non-control network node, the first indication having been generated by the non-control network node in response to actuation by a user of a mechanism dedicated for topology change notification implemented on the non-control network node as a physical actuation mechanism coupled to a circuit carrier device in the non-control network node, wherein the first indication is to request physical removal of the non-control network node from the network;

in response to the received indication, modifying data flow in the network to avoid data flow through the non-control network node while maintaining the data flow in the network;

receiving a second indication indicating that the non-control network node has been physically removed and that the ring has been reconnected; and

resuming data flow over the ring network in response to receiving the second indication.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein modifying the data flow further includes wrapping nodes adjacent to the non-control network node.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further including providing a headend for controlling the network data flow, and wherein the indication that the ring has been reconnected is sent from network nodes of the plurality of additional non-control network nodes adjacent to the non-control network node.

13. A method for non-disruptively modifying a ring network having a control node and a plurality of additional non-control nodes in a ring topology, comprising:

receiving at the control node a first indication from a first non-control node of the plurality of additional non-control nodes, the first indication indicating that the first non-control node will be physically removed from the network, the first indication having been generated by the first non-control node in response to actuation by a user of a mechanism dedicated for topology change notification implemented on the first non-control node as a physical actuation mechanism coupled to a network interface card in the first non-control node;

in response to the received first indication, modifying data flow in the network, by the control node, to avoid data flow through the first non-control node while maintaining the data flow in the network;

receiving at the control node a second indication that the first non-control node has been physically removed from the ring network and the ring network has been reconnected; and

resuming the data flow over the ring network, by the control node, in response to receiving the second indication.

14. A non-control network node for use in a ring network, the non-control network node comprising:

a circuit carrier device to enable the non-control network node to communicate with other nodes on the ring network; and

a mechanism dedicated for topology change notification coupled to the circuit carrier device and implemented on the non-control network node as a physical actuation mechanism, in response to actuation of which the non-control network node transmits an indication onto the ring network, to a control node, to indicate to the control node that the non-control network node is to be removed from the ring network, wherein the mechanism dedicated for topology change notification comprises:

a first actuator, actuation of which signals that a node is to be inserted onto the ring network adjacent to the non-control network node in a first direction from the non-control network node; and

a second actuator, actuation of which signals that a node is to be inserted onto the ring network adjacent to the non-control network node in a second direction from the non-control network node.

15. A non-control network node as recited in claim 14 , wherein actuation of the first actuator and the second actuator together cause the non-control network node to generate the indication to indicate that the non-control network node is to be removed from the ring network.

16. A non-control network node as recited in claim 14 , wherein the dedicated topology change notification mechanism is implemented on an external portion of a housing of the non-control network node.

17. A non-control network node as recited in claim 14 , wherein the circuit carrier device comprises a network interface card.