Method and apparatus for providing network protection at input/output interfaces of a cross-connect switch

摘要

A telecommunications system ( 10 ) includes a first cross-connect switch ( 12 ) and a second cross-connect switch ( 14 ). The first cross-connect switch ( 12 ) includes a switching matrix that provides information from a matrix connection to a selector ( 28 ) of an output interface ( 18 ). The selector ( 28 ) places the information from the switching matrix onto one or both of a working channel ( 24 ) and a protection channel ( 26 ). The second cross-connect switch ( 14 ) receives the working channel ( 24 ) and the protection channel ( 26 ) at an input interface ( 20 ). The input interface ( 20 ) includes a selector ( 30 ) that checks a signal quality of the working channel ( 24 ) and the protection channel ( 26 ). When necessary, the selector ( 30 ) sends a request to the selector ( 28 ) to bridge the working channel ( 24 ) onto the protection channel ( 26 ). According to the signal quality, the selector ( 30 ) selects one of the working channel ( 24 ) and the protection channel ( 26 ) for transfer to a switching matrix ( 22 ) of the second cross-connect switch ( 14 ). The selector ( 30 ) avoids creating and deleting matrix connections in the switching matrix ( 22 ) in performing protection switches between the working channel ( 24 ) and the protection channel ( 26 ).