Abstract: Packets are received at a first boundary node of a long haul optical communication network which may either interconnect originating and destination communication networks or form an integral part of a single end-to-end network. Packets are reclassified to reflect a higher priority of transmission than non-long haul bound packets, as by marking them with an indication of a modified priority level of transmission. Reclassified packets are transmitted over a long-haul optical link to a second boundary node. So that the modified priority level employed in the long-haul network may be understood by a destination network, packets arriving at the second boundary node may be re-mapped or reclassified to a value recognized as being of at least equal and, preferably, higher priority than that originally established by the originating network and/or first bounary node.

Abstract: Long delays in bidirectional multiplex section-switched self-healing ring transmission systems are avoided by eliminating looping of communications signals when restoring them in response to a failure in the ring and by distributing switching of paths to be protected to ring nodes other than those immediately adjacent the failure. This is realized by provisioning each node in the bidirectional multiplex section-switched ring transmission system with a map of its traffic pattern (all active tributaries) and the relative position of each ring node in the ring transmission system, and allowing the ring node, if it has communications traffic affected by the failure, to bridge and switch to and from the protection path.