Patent ID: 7542414

Claim:
A system for computing circuit paths between a first node and a second node within a network, the network including a plurality of elements, the system having a processor and at least one computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions and comprising: a first set of computer-executable instructions creating a primary circuit path from the first node to the second node, the primary circuit path including at least one protected link selected from the plurality of elements, wherein the first set of computer-executable instructions is arranged to include the at least one protected link in a protectable segment of the primary circuit path; and a second set of computer-executable instructions creating an alternate circuit path from the first node to the second node, wherein the alternate circuit path is arranged to protect at least the protectable segment of the primary circuit path, wherein the second set of computer executable instructions include: a first subset of computer-executable instructions assigning a cost to at least one protected link; a second subset of computer-executable instruction assigning costs associated to each link of a plurality of links included in the plurality of elements, wherein the cost assigned to the at least one protected link is lower than the costs associated with each link of the plurality of links; and a third subset of computer-executable instruction considering costs associated with the plurality of links and the cost associated with the at least one protected link to determine the alternate circuit path.