Patent ID: 7433966

Claim:
In a data communication network, a method for protecting a node, said method comprising processes of: identifying said node to be protected; allocating a primary bandwidth pool on links of said data communication network for use by primary paths; allocating a backup bandwidth pool on said links of said data communication network, said backup bandwidth pool on each of said links equal to at least a link speed minus a maximum reservable bandwidth for said primary paths on said link; identifying a link pair traversing said node to be protected, said link pair having a bandwidth to be protected; establishing as a backup for said link pair a set of one or more backup paths that do not include said node and wherein said one or more backup paths collectively have backup bandwidth greater than or equal to said bandwidth to be protected; deducting, for each link included in said set of paths, from backup bandwidth available for protecting said node, while not deducting from backup bandwidth available for protecting other nodes in said data communication network; and repeating said processes of identifying, establishing, and deducting for a plurality of link pairs traversing said node without exceeding available backup bandwidth of links used in establishing said backups; wherein said bandwidth to be protected of said link pair comprises a lesser of primary bandwidths of links of said link pair traversing said node to be protected.