COMMON PROTECTION ARCHITECTURE FOR OPTICAL NETWORK

摘要

A communication network is arranged in a ring configuration of network elements ( 12 ) coupled by working spans ( 16 ) associated protection spans ( 18 ), with multiple rings sharing network elements ( 12 a and 12 b). A shared protection span ( 18 ab) is coupled between pairs of shared network elements ( 12 a and 12 b). A matrix 28 in a shared network element ( 12 a or 12 b) can couple any channel from one of the incoming working spans or protection spans to any channel of the shared protection span ( 18 ab).