Patent ID: 7164652

Claim:
A method of re-establishing a connection for a communication link, said communication link having a first portion in a first ATM communication network, a second portion in a second MPLS communication network and an interface connecting said first portion to said second portion, said first ATM communication network having a first communication protocol and a first OAM protocol adapted to monitor integrity of said first portion, said second MPLS communication network having a second communication protocol and a second MPLS OAM protocol adapted to monitor integrity of said second portion, said method comprising: utilizing said second MPLS OAM protocol to detect a failure relating to a label switched path (LSP) tunnel in said second portion by monitoring connectivity verification (CV) frames of said second MPLS OAM protocol being passed over said LSP tunnel; upon detection of said failure, identifying an alternate route for said second portion in said second MPLS communication network, said alternate route being able to complete said second portion of said communication link from said interface; and for said communication link, at said interface replacing said second portion with said alternate route.