Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically creating a circuit path that includes specified elements are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present embodiment, a method for computing a circuit path between a source node and a destination node of a network includes identifying at least a first element that is to be traversed by the circuit path such that the path passes from the source node, traverses the first element, then passes to the destination node. The method also includes routing a first segment of the circuit path automatically such that the source node and the first element are components of the first segment. In one embodiment, routing the first segment automatically includes routing the first segment automatically using a shortest path first algorithm.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically creating a path through a bi-directional line switched ring which uses common time slots are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for creating a path between first and second nodes through a third node using first and second links includes a querying device, a comparator, and a routing device. The querying device identifies a first time slot of the first link for transferring data from the first node to the third node, and also identifies a second time slot associated with the second link for transferring data between the third node and the second node. The comparator determines when the first time slot and the second time slot are consistent, and the routing device computes the path between the first and second nodes using the first and second time slots when the first and second time slots are consistent.

Abstract: A network management system (114) automatically heals incomplete circuits through a network element (120C) in response to a network manager's command to heal circuits interrupted at the network element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for providing failover operation of a communication link in a data communications network. In one embodiment the invention comprises a method for providing failover protection in a bidirectional data communication network, comprising the steps of: sending data from the first device to a second device, together with a first source identifier; detecting the source identifier of all data received by the first device; and, determining when either the source identifier of data received by the first device equals the source identifier of data sent by the first device or when the source identifier of data received by the first device does not equal a preset value, that a failure has occurred in a first communications link and in response to the failure deactivating the first communications link, and activating a second communications link.