Patent ID: 6977889

Claim:
A cross-connect method for performing a cross-connect operation on a main signal including a working channel signal transmitted over a working path and a protection channel signal transmitted over a protection path, said method comprising the steps of: retaining line setting information required for the cross-connect operation; detecting trigger information, causing a selection of one of the working path and the protection path, for an individual channel signal from said main signal; cross-connecting trigger information pieces detected for the individual channel signal according to said retained line setting information; and controlling the cross-connect operation on the main signal based on said retained line setting information and the cross-connected trigger information pieces so that one of the working channel signal and the protection channel signal is selectively output under the cross-connect operation for the main signal, whereby said cross connect operation is shared for cross-connecting based on retained line setting information and selective outputting of either said working channel signal or said protection channel signal.