Patent ID: 7082124
Filing Date: 2006-07-25
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
1. A method for computing a primary path within a mixed protection domain network, the network including a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links, the plurality of nodes including a source node and a destination node, the method comprising: identifying substantially all potential paths arranged between the source node and the destination node, wherein identifying substantially all the potential paths includes selecting a first link, the first link being arranged between the source node and a first node included in the plurality of nodes, selecting a second link, the second link being associated with the first node, and determining when the first link and the second link are protectable, wherein when the first link and the second link are protectable, the first link and the second link are added to a potential path, and wherein the first link and the second link form a potential path segment, and determining when the first link and the second link are protectable includes determining when an alternate potential path segment associated with the source node and the first node exists for the potential path segment; identifying a plurality of potential paths which are characteristically similar, each of the plurality of potential paths which are characteristically similar having at least one similar protection characteristic and being arranged between the source node and the destination node; selecting a first potential path from the plurality of potential paths which are characteristically similar; and identifying a second potential path for use as an actual path between the source node and the destination node, the second potential path being characteristically different and having at least one different protection characteristic from the first potential path; comparing the first potential path with the second potential path for use as the actual path between the source node and the destination node, wherein other potential paths included in the plurality of potential paths which are characteristically similar are not considered for use as the actual path between the source node and the destination node.