Patent ID: 8792330

Claim:
A computer implemented method for protecting against a connectivity failure of a hub connection in a first tier of an hierarchical network that includes a plurality of network elements, the method comprising: detecting, in a first one of the plurality of network elements of the first tier, the connectivity failure in the hub connection between that first network element of the first tier and at least a second one of the plurality of network elements of the first tier; and responsive to the step of detecting, the first network element of the first tier disabling at least a portion of a primary connection between the first network element of the first tier and a network element of a second tier of the hierarchical network to cause the network element of the second tier to transition the portion of the primary connection to a secondary connection between the network element of the second tier and one of the plurality of network elements of the first tier other than the first network element of the first tier, wherein the failed hub connection between the first network element of the first tier and the at least second one of the plurality of network elements of the first tier is different from the primary connection between the first network element of the first tier and the network element of the second tier.