Patent ID: 6683891
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
A cross connect system in a bidirectional line switched ring network, comprising:a first ring port interface coupled to a first working communication link and to a fist protection communication link of a fiber optic ring; a first protection channel access unit operable to terminate all channels received on the first protection communication link; a second ring port interface coupled to a second working communication link and to a second protection communication link of the fiber optic ring; a second protection channel access unit operable to terminate all channels received on the second protection communication link of the fiber optic ring; and a cross connect matrix for providing communication paths between the first and second ring port interfaces, wherein the cross connect matrix is configured to provide a dedicated communication path to pass control information between the first protection communication link coupled to the first ring port interface and the second protection communication link coupled to the second ring port interface when all the channels on the first and second protection communication links have been dropped by the first and second protection channel access units.