Patent ID: 7099578

Claim:
A line node for a communication network, the line node being bidirectionally coupled to at least one first terminal through at least one first link and to at least one second terminal through at least one second link, the line node comprising: at least one first communication path having a first end coupled to the at least one first link and a second end coupled to the at least one second link, the at least one first communication path for routing signals received from the at least one first terminal towards the at least one second terminal; at least one splitter having an input, a first output, and a second output, the input and the first output being coupled in the at least one communication path, the at least one splitter being responsive to receiving a signal for outputting first and second signal portions through the first and second outputs, respectively; a first switch having an output coupled to the at least one second link, wherein the second output of the at least one splitter is connected directly to the first switch and not through another splitter; a detector configured and positioned to detect a failure in the at least one first communication path by monitoring a predetermined point in the at least one first communication path; and a controller coupled to the detector and to the first switch, the controller being responsive to the detector detecting a failure in the at least one first communication path for controlling the first switch to couple the second output of the splitter to the at least one second link, for routing the second signal portion towards the at least one second terminal.