System and method for restoring a telecommunications network based on a two prong approach

In a communications network, a method of effecting at least one new communication path to carry traffic disrupted by a break in a link of said network, comprising the steps of:

• broadcasting two restore signals, one from each end node of said link, to other nodes of said network;
• making cross connections between selective ones of said other nodes at which said restore signals from both end nodes are received and whose cross-connected links have sufficient spare channel capacity to effect said new communication path between said end nodes.

System for restoring service in a communications network after disruption of traffic flow at at least one of said network's links, comprising:

• fault detecting means for identifying said one link where said traffic disruption occurred as a faulty link, respective said fault detecting means located in respective end nodes sandwiching said faulty link;
• broadcast means located in each of said end nodes for broadcasting respective restoration request messages from said end nodes to other nodes in said network;
• cross-connect means in each said other nodes for making cross connections between selective ones of said other nodes at which said respective restoration request messages from both end nodes have been received and whose cross-connected links have adequate spare channel capacity to effect at least one new communication path other than through said faulty link between said end nodes.

In a communications network, arrangement for effecting at least one new communication path to route traffic disrupted by a break in a link of said network, comprising:

• broadcast means located in each end node of said link for broadcasting respective restore signals to other nodes of said network;
• cross-connect means in each of said other nodes for making cross connections between selective ones of said other nodes at which said respective restore signals broadcasted by both said end nodes are received and whose cross-connected links have sufficient spare channel capacity to effect said new communication path between said end nodes.