Patent ID: 7602698

Claim:
A sub-network connection system, comprising: line modules configured to receive bridged traffic signals over individual corresponding channels, said line modules being grouped into sets at a lower protection layer, said sets of line modules being organized into working legs and protection legs at an upper protection layer, wherein said line modules are activated/deactivated based on different upper and lower protection schemes associated with said upper and lower protection layers; state maps associated with each of said line modules, said state maps storing state data that activates and deactivates said line modules, said state maps being updated in accordance with said lower protection scheme to perform intra-leg switching between said line modules in one of said working and protection legs, said state map being updated in accordance with said upper protection scheme to perform inter-leg switching between a first line module in one of said working and protection legs and a second line module in another of said working and protection legs; and a network control module interconnected with said line modules, said network control module performing inter-leg switching by updating said state data in said state maps for corresponding line modules in associated working and protection legs.