Asynchronous transfer mode link recovery mechanism

In an ATM system in which an incoming data cell on a first communications link is routed to a second communications link as an outbound data cell in accordance with an incoming header in said incoming data cell on said first communications link and a first normal incoming header translation table stored at an ATM node in order to interface said first communications link to said ATM node, a method for re-routing data cells routed to an outbound port of said second communications link to an alternate communications link when a fault occurs in said second communications link, comprising the steps of:

• prior to the existence of a fault condition in said second communications link:
• a. forming a precut incoming header translation table for interfacing an incoming data cell on said second communications link to said ATM node when there is a fault condition in said second communications link;
• b. storing in a memory said precut incoming header translation table;
• in response to a fault condition in said second communications links;
• a. substituting said precut incoming header translation table for a second normal incoming header translation table stored at said ATM node in order to interface said ATM node to said second communications link;
• and
• b. establishing a loop-back path between said outbound port and an inbound port of said second communications link to couple an outbound data cell routed to said outbound port of said second communications link back to said inbound port of said second communications link, whereby said ATM node re-routes said outbound data cell in accordance with said precut incoming header translation table in response to a fault condition in said second communications link.