Patent ID: 6560202
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: H04J,H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A method of controlling the selection of signals by a plurality of network elements distributed along a transmission path, the method comprising the steps of:deriving signal status information about a signal at any point along the transmission path; encoding the signal status information corresponding to the signal in at least one of a plurality of signal status layers in the signal for transmission with the signal along the transmission path to each of the plurality of network elements, wherein the signal status information is indicative of one or more prescribed status conditions corresponding to the signal; and at any of the plurality of network elements, selectively extracting and decoding the encoded signal status information from at least one of the plurality of signal status layers to facilitate a selection decision for the corresponding signal, wherein the selection decision for a particular signal is made locally at a respective network element based on the encoded signal status information corresponding to the particular signal that is decoded at the respective network element.