Patent ID: 6760424
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for establishing a protected communication segment between two network elements of a telecommunication network, the method comprising the steps of:(a) providing the protected communication segment between a first network element and a second network element as a protected connection and a protecting connection; (b) providing the first and second network elements with respective first, second, and third termination points via which the respective network element is connected to a neighboring network element; (c) establishing a first cross connection carrying communication traffic for the protected connection between the first termination point and the second termination point and a second cross-connection for the protecting connection between the first termination point and the third termination point protecting the corresponding first cross connection within the respective first and second network elements of the protected communication segment; (d) establishing the first and second cross connections in the respective first and second network element independently of cross connections already existing in the respective first and second network element; (e) respectively establishing the first cross connection between the corresponding first and second termination points in the respective first and second network element when one of the corresponding first and second termination points is not already connected to a first or second cross connection; and (f) subsequently respectively establishing the second cross connection between the corresponding first and third termination points in the respective first and second network element only when one of the corresponding first and third termination points is already connected to an existing first cross connection, and a second cross connection protecting the existing first cross connection is not already established for the existing first cross connection.