Patent ID: 7660241

Claim:
A network system, comprising: a plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is coupled to communicate with at least one other node in the plurality of nodes; wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is coupled to communicate to another node via a respective primary path and via a respective backup path, wherein each backup path supports at least one of 1+1, 1:1, and 1:n protection type; and wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is operable to perform the steps of: when receiving network traffic as a receiving node, detecting delay in traffic received from a transmitting node; and in response to detecting delay during a non-protection event, communicating a signal to the transmitting node, wherein in response to the signal the transmitting node is operable to dynamically load balance traffic by adjusting a distribution of traffic between a respective primary path and a respective backup path from the transmitting node to the receiving node.