Patent ID: 6868057

Claim:
An arrangement comprising: an ATM switch fabric; a controller associated with said ATM switch fabric for controlling operation of said ATM switch fabric, a first I/O module, coupled to said ATM switch fabric and having a framer to which a protection line is connected; a second I/O module, coupled to said ATM switch fabric and having a framer to which a service line is connected, said second I/O module being physically distinct from said first I/O module; and a decision logic module within said first I/O module that, in response to applied stimulus, where said stimulus is taken from a set including user-specified directives, state condition information of the service line, and state condition information of the protection line, develops signals that flow to said framer in said first I/O module and to said second I/O module to direct said service line to be in an active state or in a standby state and, correspondingly, to direct said protection line to be in a standby state or in an active state.