Scaleable line-based protection for connection oriented communications protocols

A method of operating a protected network including a plurality of primary nodes interconnected by a set of pre-provisioned working path segments between a source and a destination, comprising:

• interconnecting a plurality of backup nodes by a set of pre-provisioned protection path segments between the source and the destination, and further interconnecting each backup node with a corresponding one of the primary nodes by a corresponding one of a set of pre-provisioned, bidirectional shunt segments;
• at each primary node, (i) under normal working circumstances, directing input traffic from an upstream working path segment to a downstream working path segment, (ii) upon occurrence of a failure on the upstream working path segment, directing input traffic from an input shunt segment to the downstream working path segment, and (iii) upon occurrence of a failure on the downstream working path segment, directing input traffic from the upstream working path segment to an output shunt segment;
• and
• at each backup node, (i) upon occurrence of a failure on the downstream working path segment of the associated primary node, directing input traffic from an input shunt segment to a downstream protection path segment, and (ii) upon occurrence of a failure on the upstream working path segment of the associated primary node, directing input traffic from an upstream protection path segment to an output shunt segment.