Cisco Technology, Inc.

Dsc Communications Corporation

Alcatel USA

R Douglas Howson

Thomas A Potter

Martin Roberts

A method for protection switching in a telecommunications network is provided that includes receiving a plurality of primary and secondary sub-streams. Each primary sub-stream corresponds to a redundant secondary sub-stream. Each sub-stream has an associated priority level. Protection switching is provided for the sub-streams based on the priority levels.

Method and system for protection switching in a telecommunications network

A transport interface (,) provides add drop multiplex functionality and termination requirements for the transportation of network traffic. The transport interface (,) includes high speed units (,), broadband interfaces (,), and SONET formatters (,). Each high speed unit (,), broadband interface (,), and SONET formatter has redundant protection pairs (A and B). The high speed units (,), broadband interfaces (,), and SONET formatters (,) communicate with each other by in-band datalinks (,). The redundant protection pairs (A and B) communicate with one another by protection pair datalinks (,). The in-band datalinks (,) and the protection pair datalinks (,) provide protection switching within the transport interface (,) in the event of component failure. The in-band datalinks (,) are generated out of available or consumed bytes within either a section overhead (,) or a line overhead (,) of SONET OC-N frame (,). The protection pair datalinks (,) provide communication capability over a common control communications interface. The in-band datalinks (,) and the protection pair data links (,) work together to provide a smooth transition from one component to another in the event of a protection switch.

Transport interface for performing protection switching of telecommunications traffic

A transport interface (10) provides add drop multiplex functionality and termination requirements for the transportation of network traffic. The transport interface (10) includes high speed units (12), broadband interfaces (16), and SONET formatters (18). Each high speed unit (12), broadband interface (16), and SONET formatter has redundant protection pairs (A and B). The high speed units (12), broadband interfaces (16), and SONET formatters (18) communicate with each other by in-band datalinks (40). The redundant protection pairs (A and B) communicate with one another by protection pair datalinks (42). The in-band datalinks (40) and the protection pair datalinks (42) provide an effective means for performing protection switching within the transport interface (10) in the event of component failure. The in-band datalinks (40) are generated out of available or consumed bytes within either a section overhead (32) or a line overhead (34) of SONET OC-N frame (30). The protection pair datalinks (42) provide communication capability over a common control communications interface. The in-band datalinks (40) and the protection pair data links (42) work together to provide a smooth transition from one component to another in the event of a protection switch.

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R Douglas Howson