Patent ID: 8737203

Claim:
A method of establishing a protection path in a data network from a source switch to a destination switch through a plurality of switches, comprising: sending a first predetermined control message, over a first data path from a first switch to a second switch, said first predetermined control message establishing at least a working path through a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) data network between said first and second switches; sending a second predetermined control message, over a second data path from said first switch to said second switch, said second predetermined control message establishing at least a protection path through said multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) data network between said first and second switches; associating said working path to said protection path to enable protection switching; constructing a reverse notification tree along said working path, and providing an affirmative notice to re-route or switch data from said working path to said protection path, the affirmative notice being transmitted along the reverse notification tree, including from said second switch to said first switch; and upon detection of a failure in said working path, re-routing or switching the data from said working path to said protection path.