Patent ID: 7747773

Claim:
A data communications system, comprising: a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links for providing connections between the plurality of nodes; a subset of the plurality of links and the plurality of nodes being operative for forming a worker path carrying worker data through the communications system; a further subset of the plurality of links and the plurality of nodes being operative for forming a protection path for carrying non-worker data in the absence of a fault in the worker path, the protection path comprising a plurality of disjoint detours, each detour being operative for providing an alternative path for the worker data in a different part of the worker path in the event of a fault in the worker path; and protection means, in which the protection path is predetermined by the protection means prior to detection of a fault in the worker path, the protection means being operative for activating the entire plurality of detours to carry the worker data upon detection of a fault in the worker path, and the protection means being further operative for identifying the location of the fault, and for returning the worker data to a part of the worker path not affected by the fault from at least one of the plurality of detours providing an alternative to that part of the worker path not affected by the fault, while those of the plurality of detours providing an alternative to parts of the worker path which are affected by the fault continue to carry the worker data.