Abstract: A method of selecting a restoration path in a mesh telecommunication network is disclosed that advantageously is practical and flexible and may be pre-computed along with a service connection path during the setup of the connection. The information used to select the restoration path can be advantageously distributed among nodes in the network.

Abstract: A wavelength-switching, mesh-based restoration method among a network of optical cross-connects (OXCs) is disclosed. The method is defined as "quasi-centralized" in that the network is first partitioned into a plurality of subnetworks, then a single "restoration controller" is defined for each separate subnetwork. The subnetwork partitioning is defined as being either "minimally overlapping", meaning that the OXCs are "clustered" in their network topology, with only a few links required to join the various, autonomous subnetworks, or "highly overlapping", meaning that the OXCs are defined as being included in more than one subnetwork. Each subnetwork restoration controller (SRC) includes a network graph and is therefore responsible for providing restoration around faults recognized in its own subnetwork.