Method and system for increasing transponder sharing for mesh restoration in a communication network

A network element comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a resource allocation module communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to, either individually or in concert with one or more other resource allocation modules integral to one or more other network elements:
• for each particular working demand in a communication network including the network element, calculate a dedicated backup path for a working path of the particular working demand such that each particular backup path does not include links present in the working path;
• and
• for each particular working demand:
• assign to the backup path a wavelength associated with the particular working demand;
• and
• assign to the backup path a transponder at each of the source and destination of the backup path associated with the wavelength;
• such that the backup path for at least one particular working demand is assigned a transponder that is also assigned to the backup path for at least one other particular working demand.

An article of manufacture, comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to:
• for each particular working demand in a communication network, calculate a dedicated backup path for a working path of the particular working demand such that each particular backup path does not include links present in the working path;
• and
• for each particular working demand:
• assign to the backup path a wavelength associated with the particular working demand;
• and
• assign to the backup path a transponder at each of the source and destination of the backup path associated with the wavelength;
• such that the backup path for at least one particular working demand is assigned a transponder that is also assigned to the backup path for at least one other particular working demand.