Ciena Corporation

Lei Fu

Neeraj Gulati

Premal Desai

Sivaramakrishna Kuditipudi

Murtuza S Attarwala

Alok Khambatkone

John Stephen Brenneman

An embodiment of the invention provides a method and apparatus for restoring a connection in a network. The connection is typically a sub network connection (SNC). In an embodiment, a failed line in a link connecting a first node and a second node is detected, where the failed line is associated with a sub network connection (SNC). The sub network connection (SNC) is then mapped to an alternate line in the link. The first node will change cross connections in a switch fabric in the first node, while the second node will change cross connections in a switch fabric in the second node, so that both nodes can transmit data on the selected alternate line, in order to restore the SNC.

Local span mesh restoration (LSMR)

Lines within an aggregated link extending between network elements in a communications system are monitored for faults. Once a fault is detected on a particular line carrying a control channel, an alternative line is selected and control channel is transmitted on the alternative line. Once a control channel is received at a remote end on a new line, the control channel is reassigned to that line. In an alternative embodiment, the control channel is split into separate channels carrying routing and signaling information, respectively. The separate routing and signaling channels are carried by separate lines, but can be reassigned to other lines in response to a fault. Further, the routing information can be carried by multiple lines in an alternating pattern such as a round robin fashion.

Resiliency of control channels in a communications network

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Lei Fu