Patent ID: 7668081

Claim:
A method for use in a system in which multiple service distributors propagate service streams via a plurality of links, the method comprising: logically separating, by a network element, the service streams according to service type profiles associated with the service streams; allocating link resources for working and backup capacity according to the service type profiles; grouping the service streams into stream groups based on the service type profiles, each stream group associated with a respective priority; defining a link aggregation group (LAG) including at least one worker link adapted for carrying one or more higher priority stream groups and at least one backup link adapted for carrying service streams of one or more lower priority stream groups; and transitioning, in response to a worker link failure condition, a higher priority stream group, affected by the worker link failure condition, from a respective failed worker link to a backup link of the at least one backup link, the higher priority stream group comprising multiple like-profiled service streams.