Patent ID: 8031704

Claim:
A method for optimizing a network node having a plurality of transport-side line cards and a backplane, the method comprising: identifying a first group of transport-side line cards that connect a plurality of traffic circuits through the network node; and identifying a second group of transport-side line cards that connect said plurality of traffic circuits through the network node, said identifying the second plurality of transport-side line cards including ordering nodal flows across the backplane, said identifying the second plurality of transport-side line cards being based on one or more of a set of constraints selected from a group consisting of shortest path calculations associated with the plurality of traffic circuits, protected path diversity associated with the plurality of traffic circuits, connectivity between each of the first group of transport-side line cards, topology of the backplane, and routing restrictions within a chassis, wherein a number of the first plurality of transport-side line cards is larger than a number of the second plurality of transport-side line cards.