Patent ID: 6477142
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
A method for using more bandwidth in a uni-directional path switched SONET ring network having a plurality of nodes including in combination a plurality of network elements, the ring network having at least a first node from which information is to be added to the SONET ring network and a second node from which information is to be dropped from the SONET ring network, the ring network also having a first path for conveying a traffic stream to the plurality of network elements and a second path for transmitting to the plurality of network elements a redundant copy of the traffic stream on the first path, the method comprising the steps of:i) modifying a first network element from among the plurality of network elements so that the first network element accepts a first and a second traffic stream, and provides the first traffic stream to the first path and the second traffic stream to the second path; and ii) modifying a second network element from among the plurality of network elements so that the second network element receives, at the same time, the first and second traffic streams, thereby allowing two different traffic streams to be output at the second network element at the same time.