Patent ID: 7590049
Filing Date: 2009-09-15
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method of configuring an optical network element to support protection switching in either an SDH or a SONET optical network, the method comprising: storing in memory of a shelf processor card in the optical network element a complete set of triggering parameters for implementing protection switching in an SDH optical network and a complete set of triggering parameters for implementing protection switching in a SONET optical network; determining a default set of triggering parameters in which each triggering parameter is common to SDH and SONET optical transport standards for providing protection switching; configuring a second card of the optical network element with the default set of triggering parameters, the default set lacking one or more triggering parameters required to perform a given protection scheme in at least one of the SDH and SONET optical networks; and obtaining from one of the complete sets of triggering parameters and transmitting from the shelf processor card to the second card of the network element each triggering parameter required to perform the given protection scheme but lacking in the default set after the network element is deployed in a type of optical network that requires that lacking triggering parameter in order for the second card of the optical network element to perform the given protection scheme.