Patent ID: 6643464
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: H04B,H04J

Abstract:
An optical network comprising:a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links between the nodes, a mesh of working paths provided over the links and nodes, a plurality of secondary paths provided over the links and nodes, each secondary path for use in case of a failure in a link or node of a working path associated with such secondary path, a first shared protection ring being provided for shared use by some of the secondary paths, and being arranged to have a shared link overlapping one or more of the secondary paths and a link selector at each end of the shared link to select which of the first shared protection ring or one of said one or more secondary paths overlapping the shared link is allocated to the shared link detection of a failure in a link or node of a working path associated with said first shared protection ring or said one or more of the secondary paths, said link selectors being controlled independently of said shared protection ring.