System and method for prevention of cell loss due to quality of service contracts in an ATM network

A method for re-routing data in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, comprising:

• defining a quality of service (QoS) threshold for said ATM network,
• receiving data at a first ATM node;
• identifying said data according to one or more of a plurality of data types;
• determining whether a usage of said ATM network has exceeded said QoS threshold;
• predicting, responsive to said receiving, when said usage is expected to exceed said QoS threshold;
• and
• routing at least a first portion of said data via at least one secondary network during periods when said usage is predicted to exceed said QoS threshold, wherein said routing comprises routing said at least a first portion of said data based on said one or more of a plurality of data types, and said secondary network is chosen based on said one or more of a plurality of data types.

A telecommunications system comprising:

• a first ATM node configured to receive data according to one or more of a plurality of data types;
• a second ATM node operably coupled to said first ATM node;
• an ATM network coupling said first ATM node to said second ATM node, said ATM network comprising a plurality of ATM switches operable to convey data from said first ATM node to said second ATM node;
• and
• at least one secondary network operably coupling said first ATM node to said second ATM node, wherein said fist ATM node is configured to route at least a first portion of said data via said at least one secondary network responsive to a determination that a bandwidth threshold on said ATM network has been exceeded.

A method for re-routing data in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, comprising:

• defining a bandwidth threshold for said ATM network,
• receiving data at a first ATM node, wherein said data comprises one or more of a plurality of data types;
• identifying said data according to said one or more of said plurality of data types;
• determining whether a usage of said ATM network has exceeded said bandwidth threshold;
• and
• routing at least a first portion of said data via at least one secondary network if said usage has exceeded said bandwidth threshold, wherein said routing comprises routing said at least a first portion of said data based on said identifying said data based on said one or more of said plurality of data types, and said secondary network is chosen based on said one or more of said plurality of data types.