Patent ID: 6442131
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A selective VP protection method employing both VP end protection and arbitrary VP protection for protecting a virtual path connection established between VP end nodes in an ATM network which is comprised of plurality of ATM cross-connect nodes, the method comprising the steps of:transmitting downward from each failure detecting node, a VP-AIS cell including an area for carrying a switching flag which indicates the presence or absence of execution of arbitrary VP protection; determining, at each ATM cross-connect node capable of executing arbitrary VP protection which detects a line failure, whether or not to execute the arbitrary VP protection to relieve the line failure; selectively executing or not executing arbitrary VP protection at each such cross-connect node in accordance with the determination made thereat; transmitting downward from such cross-connect node the VPS-AIS cell in which the switching flag has been in accordance with the determination made thereat; receiving a VPS-AIS cell at a VP end node; determining at each VP end node which receives a VPS-AIS cell, the state of the switching flag therein; and executing VP end protection at each VP end node which receives a VPS-AIS cell, if the switching flag indicates that arbitrary VP protection was not executed by the failure detecting nodes.