Patent ID: 7647533

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a communication module for enabling communication signals and error signals to be exchanged with a remote communication module and for performing normal error signal processing; and an error signal processing coordination module operatively coupled to the communication module, the error signal processing coordination module being operable to restrict the normal error signal processing by the communication module, while allowing the communication module to exchange at least communication signals, where the communication module is configured in an Automatic Protection Switching (APS) protection group, wherein at least one of the communication module and the error signal processing coordination module comprises one or more hardware components, wherein the communication module enables communication signals and error signals to be exchanged with the remote communication module over a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) communication link established through a Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SONET/SDH) port, wherein the error signal processing coordination module is operable to restrict the normal error signal processing by blocking transmission of a Remote Defect Indication (RDI) signal from the communication module to the remote communication module where a SONET/SDH near end defect exists in a receive direction of the SONET/SDH port.