Abstract: A telecommunications system (10) includes a first cross-connect switch (12) and a second cross-connect switch (14). The first cross-connect switch (12) includes a switching matrix that provides information from a matrix connection to a selector (28) of an output interface (18). The selector (28) places the information from the switching matrix onto one or both of a working channel (24) and a protection channel (26). The second cross-connect switch (14) receives the working channel (24) and the protection channel (26) at an input interface (20). The input interface (20) includes a selector (30) that checks a signal quality of the working channel (24) and the protection channel (26). When necessary, the selector (30) sends a request to the selector (28) to bridge the working channel (24) onto the protection channel (26).

Abstract: A telecommunications network (10) includes a plurality of nodes (12) interconnected in a bidirectional line switched ring configuration (18). The bidirectional line switched ring configuration (18) includes a working communication link (14) and a protection communication link (16) between each of the plurality of nodes (12). A particular node (12) within the telecommunications network (10) includes a first ring port interface (20) and a second ring port interface (22) each coupled to the working communication link (14) and the protection communication link (16). The first ring port interface (20) and the second ring port interface (22) are coupled by a cross connect matrix (24). The particular node (12) may have a protection channel access unit (30) to terminate control information carried over a protection communication link (16) of the bidirectional line switched ring configuration (18).

Abstract: A method for distributed managing of restoration paths within a communication network having nodes connected by links; comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a spare link catalog identifying unassigned links connecting each selected node with an adjacent node; (b) sending a probe message from each node to each adjacent node over an unassigned link; (c) evaluating the probe message at each adjacent node according to predetermined criteria; (d) forwarding the probe message to subsequent adjacent nodes, or discarding the probe message, as determined by the evaluating; (e) appending message content to the probe message indicating the path sequence traversed by the probe message proceeding through the network; (f) evaluating the forwarded probe message at each said subsequent node according to the predetermined criteria; (g) repeating steps (d) through (f) for each forwarded probe message until it is discarded or is received by the probe message originating node; (h) the probe message originating node noting ea