Patent ID: 7583661

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: (1) a first device, wherein said first device is a device for switching circuits; (2) a second device, wherein said second device is a device for switching packets; and (3) a first processor; wherein said first processor is coupled with said first device and said second device; wherein said first device and said second device are coupled via a channelized high-speed link; wherein said second device receives network traffic from user devices; wherein said first processor maps a first portion of said network traffic from said second device on to a first channel of said channelized high-speed link and routes said first channel through said first device; wherein said first processor maps a second portion of said network traffic from said second device on to a second channel of said channelized high-speed link and routes said second channel through said first device; wherein said first portion and said second portion of said network traffic are determined based on a parameter of said network traffic; and wherein said first processor comprises a restoration protocol, wherein said restoration protocol reroutes said first channel via said first device in response to detection of a network failure.