Patent ID: 7085563

Claim:
A system for transmitting signals from a first communications station to a second communications station, comprising: at least one electronic device that transmits the signals to the second communications station; a plurality of primary chains of forward link equipment that transmit the signals to the electronic device, wherein each primary chain of said forward link equipment further comprises a path; a plurality of spare chains of forward link equipment, wherein each spare chain of forward link equipment further comprises a path; at least one router that sends the signals to the primary chains of forward link equipment via the paths of the primary chains of forward link equipment; at least one forward link assignment manager that manages the paths of primary chains of forward link equipment and the paths of the spare chains of forward link equipment and provides each of the paths of the spare chains of forward link equipment with a priority designator; and wherein if one of said primary chains of forward link equipment fails, said router sends the signals to one of said paths of spare chains of forward link equipment based on said priority designator.