Abstract: Methods of computing a path through a network between a source node and a destination node. At the source node, an explore message is launched into at least one link hosted by the source node. The explore message includes a path vector containing a node identifier of the source node. At a node intermediate the source node and the destination node, the explore message is received, and each link hosted by the node that can be operably added to the path is identified. A respective node identifier of the node is added to the path vector of the explore message, which is then forwarded through each identified link. At the destination node, the respective path vector is extracted from at least one received explore message.

Abstract: Methods of computing a path through a network between a source node and a destination node. At the source node, an explore message is launched into at least one link hosted by the source node. The explore message includes a path vector containing a node identifier of the source node. At a node intermediate the source node and the destination node, the explore message is received, and each link hosted by the node that can be operably added to the path is identified. A respective node identifier of the node is added to the path vector of the explore message, which is then forwarded through each identified link. At the destination node, the respective path vector is extracted from at least one received explore message.

Abstract: A method for processing automatic protection switch (APS) messages at a network element in a tunnel provisioned across a data transport network in order to provide for distributed processing of protection switch request messages involves receiving new APS message at the NE; determining whether the NE is an end point of the tunnel, or a tandem of the tunnel and processing the message accordingly. If the NE is a tandem, message processing involves using local information about tunnel segments of the tunnel only maintained by the NE, to update the local information, and to selectively forward the updated information to adjacent NEs of the tunnel. If the NE is an end point, it updates a status of the tunnel. In a preferred embodiment all NEs are responsible for controlling pending and preemption indicators, and for initiating tunnel condition messages, and the end point NEs are responsible for initiating all other messages.