Bidirectional line switched partial rings, mesh networks, and methods of operation

摘要

A bi-directional line switched mesh includes at least one bi-directional line switched ring (BLSR) sharing a common section with a partial bi-directional line switched ring (PBLSR). The partial bi-directional line switched ring has no working traffic along the common section, but may utilize the protection bandwidth associated with the common section of the BLSR in the event of a span failure of the PBLSR. Both electrical and optical PBLSR networks are also disclosed including methods of operating the asymmetrical ring nodes having unconfigured working ports (spans).