Patent ID: 7024110

Claim:
A method for switching optical traffic from a secondary optical path to a primary optical path, each of which establish an optical communication path between first and second optical nodes, said method comprising the steps of: detecting a presence or absence of an optical signal traveling in the primary path through the first optical node; detecting a presence or absence of an optical signal traveling in the primary path through the second optical node; detecting a presence or absence of an optical signal traveling in the secondary path through the first optical node; detecting a presence or absence of an optical signal traveling in the secondary path through the second optical node; coupling a portion of an optical signal traveling in the first optical node from the secondary path to the primary path; and switching a switching element in each of the first and second optical nodes from a second state to a first state so that the optical traffic traverses the primary optical path when an optical signal is detected traveling in the primary path through both the first and second optical nodes.