The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 16, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1995
John David Allen, Garland, TX (US);
Lee D Bengston, Murphy, TX (US);
MCI Corporation, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A system and method for restoring communications between a pair of nodes, between which communications have been broken, in a network. The method comprises the steps of designating one of the nodes a SENDER node and the other a CHOOSER node, where the SENDER and CHOOSER nodes each have a working port connected to a link bearing the interrupted communications; creating a forward restoration signature having a unique priority; selectively transmitting the forward restoration signal from the SENDER node based on its priority; upon receipt of a forward restoration signature at a TANDEM node, modifying and selectively transmitting the forward restoration signature based on its priority; upon receipt of a forward restoration signature at a spare port on the CHOOSER node, choosing the restoration path indicated by the received forward restoration signature, connecting the working port to the spare port, and transmitting a reverse restoration signature having the same priority as the forward restoration signature; upon receipt of a reverse restoration signature at a TANDEM node, based on the priority of the reverse restoration signature, modifying and selectively transmitting the reverse restoration signature, and connecting the port on which the reverse restoration signal was received to the port on which the corresponding forward restoration signature was originally received; and on receipt of a reverse restoration signature at a spare port on the SENDER node, connecting the spare port to the working port, thereby restoring communications between the pair of nodes.