Abstract: A communication network and method is presented that performs line level restoration when an indication of a trunk failure is received. When a trunk failure occurs, the optical cross connect switch detecting the failure signals upstream to a peer optical cross connect switch of the failure occurrence. The optical cross connect switch having the higher router ID performs an alternative trunk query and if an alternative trunk is located, the two nodes located at each end of the failed trunk migrate the eligible label switched paths onto the new trunk.

Abstract: Methods and systems for exchanging information between optical nodes are provided. A method for peer discovery between a first optical node and a second optical node comprises connecting the first optical node and the second optical node with at least two trunks, and sending a packet, which includes an identifier, from the first optical node to the second optical node. A method of establishing Internet Protocol connectivity between a first optical node and a second optical node connected by at least one trunk is also provided.

Abstract: A network including a control channel source node and a plurality of control channel destination nodes is interconnected by communications media in the form of a ring. The control and control channel destination nodes transfer information over a plurality of channels using wavelength-division multiplex techniques. The control channel source node transmits control information to all of the control channel destination nodes over a unitary control channel, and each of the control channel destination nodes drains off a portion of the energy of the signal comprising the control channel to facilitate decoding and processing of the control information contained therein. Each of the aspects, the control channel destination nodes can also generate status information for transfer to the control channel source node over the control channel. The control channel source node drains off the energy of the signal comprising the control channel to facilitate decoding and processing of the status information contained therein.