Patent ID: 7042839

Claim:
A protected network, comprising: a plurality of primary nodes interconnected by a set of pre-provisioned working path segments between a source and a destination; and a plurality of backup nodes interconnected by a set of pre-provisioned protection path segments between the source and the destination, each backup node also being interconnected with an associated one of the primary nodes by a corresponding one of a set of pre-provisioned, bidirectional shunt segments; wherein: each primary node is operative, (i) under normal working circumstances, to direct input traffic from an upstream working path segment to a downstream working path segment, (ii) upon occurrence of a failure on the upstream working path segment, to direct input traffic from an input shunt segment to the downstream working path segment, and (iii) upon occurrence of a failure on the downstream working path segment, to direct input traffic from the upstream working path segment to an output shunt segment; and each backup node is operative, (i) upon occurrence of a failure on the downstream working path segment of the associated primary node, to direct input traffic from an input shunt segment to a downstream protection path segment, and (ii) upon occurrence of a failure on the upstream working path segment of the associated primary node, to direct input traffic from an upstream protection path segment to an output shunt segment.