Patent ID: 7643407
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
1. A method of determining protection transmission unit timeslot allocations on a protection path for traffic flows on a working path upon occurrence of failure on the working path, the working path and protection path extending through a common set of nodes in a communication network and implementing a protection cycle on the communication network, the method comprising the steps of: distributing connection information associated with the traffic flows on the working path to all nodes on the protection path before occurrence of a failure on the working path; and upon occurrence of a failure on the working path, individually determining, by each node on the protection path, which traffic flows on the working path are affected by the failure on the working path and therefore will be carried on the protection path, and the timeslot allocations on the protection path of the affected traffic flows at that node based on the connection information associated with the affected traffic flows; wherein the traffic flows are carried in timeslots on the working path and the protection path, and wherein each individual traffic flow occupies one or more timeslot on the working path or on the protection path.