Patent ID: 6052210
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: H04B,H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
In an environment having an optical ring network including a plurality of ring nodes and a plurality of optical links optically coupled between the plurality of ring nodes for carrying optical data traffic, a first optical cross connect switch optically coupled to a first ring node in the optical ring network, a second optical cross connect switch optically coupled to a second ring node in the optical ring network, the first ring node and the second ring node connected via at least one optical link, a restoration method comprising the steps of:(1) detecting a failure in the at least one optical link;(2) switching the optical ring network from a normal mode to a failure mode to bypass said failure in the at least one optical link;(3) switching the first and second optical cross connect switches to optically couple the first and second ring nodes to an alternate network, wherein transmission between the first ring node and the second ring node is via an alternate path of said alternate network; and(4) switching the optical ring network from said failure mode to a normal mode, wherein said normal mode includes transmission via said alternate path of said alternate network.